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Grand Analog is a raw collective created in 2006. Its members are seasoned record collectors, musicians and self described beat junkies from around the way. You can easily find each of these characters honing the role of DJ at various local pubs and clubs in Toronto or Winnipeg. Band leader and creator, Odario Williams, describes the Grand Analog sound as a beautiful mess of rap'n'roll, dub and soul. "Grand Analog is unbalanced and dirty; never clean. Grand Analog is fuzzy with three coats of dust and reads like an old manual no longer in use". Calligraffiti, the debut album, has an array of soundscapes you can travel through: 'Touch Your Toes' boasts James Brown style drums, rock guitar and a New Orleans style horn break. 'Around This Town' can only be described as a ska-pop-hiphop joint and 'Simmer Me Down' carries a smooth infectious jazz-funk bump to it. The new album entitled "Metropolis Is Burning" keeps these traditions alive by fine tuning what is now the Grand Analog sound. Feature tracks include 'Her Daddy (Don't Like Me)', 'Take It Slow', 'Stir Crazy' and 'Electric City'. Metropolis Is Burning is due out May 26, 2009.
Each character in this collective brings something unique to the table. Odario and DJ Ofield blame their father, a reggae DJ from the 80s, for cursing them with the love of music, bass and trouble. DJ Catalist on keyboards was also born into a musical family inheriting a few dusty analog keys for the lab (Arp Odyssey, Mini Korg K2, Sequential Circuits Six Trak, Roland Jupitor 6 among others). Warren Bray has a punk funk history and is now appointed GA's doctor of bass while Damon Mitchell brings his guitar savvy to the recording process. Other album contributers include Cadence Weapon, Shad, Maiko Watson and saxophonist Martin Perna (TV On The Radio/Antibalas).
Grand Analog's retro heart and restless feet create an extensive touring schedule. The live show adds soul to the bloodline along with frequent stage jams and off the wall spontaneity. Both Calligraffiti and the live performance itself are critically acclaimed. Over the last two years, Grand Analog has already left their mark on prestigious showcases and festivals such as SXSW, Pop Montreal, the Halifax Pop Explosion, NXNE, JunoFest, and CMW plus a national tour opening for the Herbaliser and various Jazz and Folk Festivals nationwide. Grand Analog fiends on tackling any stage presented to them, any place any time...no matter the genre.
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