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Sonic Collective Album Pick (June 2026): David Byrne & Brian Eno — My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981)

The Sonic Collective hosts Alain, Scott Gregory, Darren, and Scott Coates discuss Scott Coates June 2026 album pick, David Byrne and Brian Eno’s 1981 collaboration My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, chosen after Scott got tickets for a David Byrne concert and wanted to explore beyond Talking Heads hits. They frame the record as an early blueprint for modern sampling and loop-based production, built from funk grooves layered with found audio like radio voices, sermons, and other global influences, created with labor-intensive tape techniques and with attention to sample licensing (including removed tracks). While acknowledging its innovation, historical importance, and influence on later hip hop/electronic production, they largely find it challenging and not very enjoyable to listen to, scoring it low overall.

00:00 Welcome to Sonic Collective
00:57 June Pick Reveal
02:04 Album Context and Setup
03:04 Alan Reaction and Critique
08:20 Scott G Context and Favorites
17:22 Darren Historical Perspective
22:47 Scott Coates Final Take
25:38 Scores and Ratings
33:47 Next Month Pick Traveler
36:10 Theme Music and Sign Off

Overall Scores:

Recommend: 2.1
Influenced: 2.1
Overall: 1.9

Scott Coates
Recommend: 1
Influenced: 1
Overall: 1

Darren Scott
Recommend: 2
Influenced: 4
Overall: 2

Scott Gregory
Recommend: 4
Influenced: 2
Overall: 3

Alain Dupuis
Recommend: 1.5
Influenced: 1.5
Overall: 1.5

The theme music for The Sonic Collective is Dust by Les Gigantiques from Calgary. Our thanks to the band for letting us use and feature their music. Be sure to check them out. https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/

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Sled Island: The Festival That Changed Calgary Music | The Sonic Collective

Darren Scott of The Sonic Collective introduces a solo Sled Island 2026 segment. He frames Sled Island in Calgary as an affordable, volunteer-driven, multi-venue “festival of discovery” that prioritizes community, diversity, and intimate live experiences over headliners, algorithms, and phone-first “Instagram moments.” The episode traces Sled’s origins in 2007 under Zak Pashak, its evolution beyond indie rock (including a 2017 Flying Lotus curation), and its resilience after the 2013 Calgary floods, while spotlighting local voices: Conrad Montana of Les Gigantiques, Cartel Madras (discovered at Sled and signed to Sub Pop), K-Riz, Brock Geiger, and Sun Glaciers. Darren highlights venues, local sponsors, CJSW, and argues Sled’s impact is cultural—building connections, collaborations, and changing perceptions of Calgary. If you want to understand what Sled is all about and hear the story from local Calgary artists, then you came to the right place.

00:00 Welcome to Sonic Collective
00:41 Darren Goes Solo
01:08 Why Music Matters
02:33 Sled Island Vibes
04:31 Calgary Music Community
07:23 What Is Sled Island
09:08 Calgary Before Sled
12:13 Conrad Montana Memories
18:12 Festival of Discovery
21:03 Cartel Madras Breakthrough
31:29 Calgary Grows Up
34:38 K-Riz and the Family
40:59 Artists Watching Artists
41:32 K-Riz New Album Plans
42:54 Human Scale Festival
44:39 Venues And Local Sponsors
47:23 Serendipity And Safety
50:16 Volunteers And Traditions
52:18 Brock Geiger Interview
01:00:28 Creativity Without Boundaries
01:02:54 Sun Glaciers On Scene
01:08:22 2013 Flood Turning Point
01:10:54 Why Sled Matters Now
01:15:39 Final Takeaways And Thanks

Photo Credit: Kelly Shaw - Clipping performing at The Palace with Cartel Madras

The theme music for The Sonic Collective is Dust by Les Gigantiques from Calgary. Our thanks to the band for letting us use and feature their music. Be sure to check them out. https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/

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Conrad Montana (Les Gigantiques) on Sled Island, Calgary’s Music Scene & a 20-Year-Old Album Finally Released

Darren Scott of The Sonic Collective continues the Sled Island series with a conversation featuring Conrad Sawatzky (Conrad Montana of Les Gigantiques), a longtime Calgary musician who has been active in bands including Anxious Poets, the Shinolas, Cripple Creek Fairies, and The Deadly Skulls. Conrad shares his musical beginnings, his role in local preservation efforts like the Rat’s Nest Recording Society, and his early connection to Sled Island through Zach Peshack and Pop Montreal. He recalls standout Sled memories (Guided by Voices, Television, Yo La Tengo, and more), highlights Calgary venues supporting live music (Loophole, Blocks, Palomino), and discusses what makes Sled unique, including its diversity and discovery-focused playlists. The episode also covers Les Gigantiques’ newly released album—recorded 20 years ago, rediscovered by Trap One Records—now streaming, with vinyl coming in August and a release show August 23 at Blocks.

https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/

00:00 Show Intro
01:08 Sled Island Series Setup
02:13 Guest Conrad Montana
04:12 How We Met
04:48 Conrad Music Origins
07:12 Preserving Calgary Tapes
09:08 First Sled Island Connection
10:50 Favorite Sled Memories
12:53 Calgary Venues Today
14:43 Day In The Life
17:03 What Makes Sled Unique
20:17 Les Gigantiques Album Story
22:32 Sound And Stage Energy
24:44 Tour Plans And Sled 2026
26:15 Local Band Shoutouts
28:24 Advice For New Musicians
29:34 Show Plug And Farewell
30:57 Host Wrap Up
32:44 Subscribe And Closing Credits

The theme music for The Sonic Collective is Dust by Les Gigantiques from Calgary. Our thanks to the band for letting us use and feature their music. Be sure to check them out. https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/

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