I AM NOT AN ALGORITHM.

Oliver Klaus - Here Comes the Sun

Since I’m currently still in Canada, I though it was fitting to start off the new year of SERMONS! with a song off what may be the first Canadian independent rock n roll record, the self-titled Oliver Klaus ( It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine has an interesting interview with them that contains some back story and some technical discussion of how the album was made here ).

I mean, it’s inspirational. And I guess that’s what the waxing days of a new year should be. So, there’s the simple story of a trio of teenagers in Quebec inspired to put out their own record. For being made in 1967, that is particularly respectable. And it’s earnest, because it’s not like this was ever going to get much play out of the local area, or at least outside Canada. They pressed 500 copies. The first side was amateurishly recorded out of phase, so it had to be mixed down to mono when it was being mastered. The band wasn’t thrilled with the final result; Side A is bass anemic . When they just couldn’t get a gig at a popular lakeside tavern, they built their own place across the lake from it and called it The Other Side. Created a little scene for a summer. True North DIY. Or something.

I’m always amazed coming upon forgotten Canadian rock n roll. Canada is like Sweden and Australia (and obviously Britain) in the absolutely batty ratio of good (and even great) bands per capita. Oliver Klaus shared bills with better-known bands like April Wine, but always remained independent. Which is why you’ve probably never heard of them.

So, did they curse themselves to remain unknown as an act of defiance, or just as an act of basic self control? This is the where we come back to the beginning.

It’s in the spirit of Oliver Klaus, teenage kids of Quebec, they who recorded their own record in 1967 and opened their own place to play, that I look to the new year as the time to take another step forward with SERMONS! towards independence and more control. Currently, this platform doesn’t distribute a small potato like this very far, if at all. Any time you tell someone else, it’s a huge help to me getting these songs out. So please keep sharing if you know anyone who would appreciate it. I’ve worked on this a bit out of defiance but mostly for the dream of control.

Also, I give myself this song, because the wet days of winter will end at some point, as they always do, which I have to remind myself as I snap my raincoat closed.

I AM A HUMAN RADIO.

Like what what’s going on here? Bombs away in the comments!

Not into this song? Stick around for the next one, it may be what you didn’t know you needed! Remember, there are only two genres of music here at SERMONS!: good and bad, and I have too much to do to waste time on bad music.