Not long after the 2003 release of Like Hearts Swelling by Polmo Polpo, Toronto’s Sandro Perri began performing under his own name. Perri then began recording the results, in various locations and with various configurations of players. In 2005, he self-released a first batch of songs on CD-R, featuring re-interpretations of material from Like Hearts Swelling. We fell in love with it, and a fifth track has been added for the Constellation release.

These are lovely tunes that extrapolate beautifully from their origins in Perri’s more diffuse, multi-layered, pulsing electronic compositions. But they also serve to remind that Perri has always played guitar; Polmo Polpo merely swaddled it in a throne of drones and submarine beats. Perri still takes the clustered, layered approach to propel the opening track, “Romeo Heart (slight return)”, using an additional nine players (from Toronto’s out-music and improv community) to generate a rippling fabric through which the original melody now weaves. The four songs that follow are each distinct in approach, but strip back to Perri solo or with one or two other players. In every case, Perri’s voice carries an infectious, quietly ecstatic tune.

A must for Polmo Polpo fans and a sweet collection of songs in its own right, Sandro Perri Plays Polmo Polpo is another window on Toronto’s improv and avant songwriter culture.

 

LP is pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal in Germany, and comes in a 100% recycled paperboard jacket with silkscreened credits insert.

CD comes in a custom gatefold jacket printed on 100% recycled paperboard with a printed CD dust sleeve.

 

Sandro Perri: guitar, voice, drums

FEATURED GUESTS

Eric Chenaux: harmonica on Track 1; electric guitar, backing vocals on Track 2
Shayne Cox: drums on Track 1
Ryan Driver: flute on Track 1
Craig Dunsmuir: bass on Track 1
Jen Parker: SK-1 on Track 1
Marcus Quin: bass clarinet on Track 1
Andy Swan: paino on Track 1
Nick Zubeck: ebow guitar on Track 1
Doug Tielli: trombone on Track 2
John Jowett: euphonium on Tracks 3, 5
Don Pyle: tambourine on Tracks 5


Track 1 recorded at The House Of Miracles in Toronto by Andy Magoffin, November 2004.
Track 2 recorded at The Honey Pot in Toronto by Sandro, January 2005.
Track 3 recorded at Hallamusic in Toronto by Jeff McMurrich, November 2005 and at The Honey Pot by Sandro, April 2006.
Tracks 4 5 recorded at Bunny Down Sound in Toronto by Don Pyle, June 2005.
Mastered at Grey Market in Montreal by Harris Newman.