cedricnoel

[cedricnoel]

A surprise of sorts ~ I’m so happy to share, as a small end of year gift for friends and the people in my life, a new album entitled guides ~ made of almost half sung, half instrumental pieces.

The songs appear in order of when they were written, titled at each outset. Born out of some new found energy to create (forcing me to find my recording gear I had packed away since last moving), I wrote and recorded most of the music in a two-day period at home and at my studio space this December and tweaked away, added bits for a couple weeks along the way. Based on one to two basic motifs, most pieces were recorded as full or semi-improvisations, with each take following a musical and melodic narrative. 

After a few years of not writing much and not being able to play guitar much comfortably, some relief of some long term pain allowed me to find a new warmth for the instrument. It also was both fun and interesting to delve a bit further into the accordion, an instrument I’m excited to keep trying to figure out!

I feel so fortunate to have had some good friends join me on a few ~ Adam Kinner on tenor saxophone & clarinet, Brigitte Naggar on vocals and Pompey on upright bass. I’m so thankful they were so willing to participate in this project with basically only a few days notice. Merci!

I found the artwork, a small painting of a young me while I was looking for my interface. I honestly had no idea who made it. A young me? A friend, classmate? Turns out it was my mom, whose work is all over my walls and last album. Go figure.

I had it up against the wall to the left of me throughout the process and it very much acted as a compass of some sort, a good feeling.

These songs, do for me, illustrate a picture of the past few weird years. I hope these pieces of music can help, as they already have for me ~ I’m hoping, some good guides for the future

Thanks, always, for listening <3

~

All songs written by Cedric Noel Produced, recorded, mixed by Cedric Noel

Saxophone, clarinet performed by Adam Kinner on 1, 4, 7, 8

Vocals performed by Brigitte Naggar on 3

Upright bass performed and recorded by Pompey on 7 Guitar, vocals, piano, vibraphone, accordion, hand percussion, drums performed by Cedric Noel

Album cover by Maria José Da Veiga Coutinho

[cedricnoel]

hello - a small gift today ~ I'm so happy to share a new song, 'Sessions' ~ it was written in the first year I moved to Montreal in my sister's old apartment. I don't remember writing it but I reckon it's a song about trusting, confiding and crying within the confines of a close friendship. 

The song is fortunate to be graced by some wonderful musicians and friends:

Lisa Conway on vocals

Tim Crabtree on clarinet

Michael Belyea on drums & percussion

Bass was recorded by Steve Newton

What luck to call on such talented folks :O

The song was otherwise mostly recorded by myself at home and at Studio Toute Garnie here in Montreal

The cover photo was taken by Isaac Vallentin around the same year of writing the song, on the final night of a tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

If you buy the song on bandcamp that money will be going directly to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

There are all my words

It is a true pleasure to make and share music, I hope you find some solace in these words & melodies. Thx, always, for listening <3

[cedricnoel]

a new song out 💧 But Can You Dance In Water? via touchtheplants

~ Thanks to Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Sean Hellfritsch (Cool Maritme) for inviting me to be part of this wonderful compilation. I wrote this piece in the spring of 2021 after the prompt "Kinetic : something concerned with movement" ~ It was made entirely using a Roland Juno-106, Boss DD7, Chase Bliss Dark World and maybe a couple more pedals...I forget ~ anyways, this piece felt like a breakthrough, I hope you enjoy it as well as the other pieces on comp ~ thx, always, for listening 💜

https://touchtheplants.bandcamp.com/album/kinetic-something-concerning-motion

stream it where you stream :)

recorded, produced and mixed by Cedric Noel on St. Joseph synthesizer by Cedric Noel Mastered by Taylor Deupree

[cedricnoel]

🌹

[cedricnoel]

Hi y'all :) I'm so happy to finally have 'Hang Time' finally out today. It felt like a very long, four year process. I hope this record can provide some warmth, comfort and reflection if nothing else. I'm so grateful to have the ability and tools to make music everyday. I hope that you're able to feel that through the songs on this album. A big thank you to Joyful Noise Recordings and Forward Music Group for investing their time and resources into this record. A big thank you to one of my best friends and collaborators Steve Newton who graciously offered to work on this project when it was still in demoland. Big hug and high-five to Junaid Abassi who has been a very patient and giving bud & manager throughout this roll-out. <3 Thank you to  Liam O'Neill, Lisa Conway-Bühler, Ella Williams, Brigitte Naggar, Kathleen Speckert, Isaac Vallentin, Tim Crabtree, Ed Brooks, Yoon Rachel Nam, Kristina Pedersen, Ryan Hover and Ali Vanderkruyk for offering their time and talent to this project. I feel grateful to have Kriss Munsya's photograph on the cover from his series the Eraser that ended up being one of the most inspiring artistic discoveries of mine in the last year. I'm so proud to have my mother's Maria José Da Veiga Coutinho, paintings all over this album, she is a prolific powerhouse! A big shout out to Christina and Amanda at Chromatic and Tom at Hive Mind for getting these songs to ears far further than my reach. I definitely didn't do this alone and it truly means a lot to have these folks believe in this record. 'Hang Time' is available digitally, on beautiful gold tape and CD. Vinyl will arrive next year and I'm sure I'll blab away on here to let you know when it does. ;) Thank you, always, for listening <3

[cedricnoel]

New song called 'Dove' is out today :) Featuring bud Brigitte Naggar of Common Holly on vocals  ~ I first wrote this song back in around 2012, so I'm excited to finally have it out to y'all. 'Hang Time' is out in less than a month which feels wild and wonderful ~ Hope you have a swell week ~ Thx for listening :) https://lnk.to/Dove

Photo by Kristina Pedersen

Cover design by Ryan Hover

[cedricnoel]

Hi folks ~ I'm feeling fortunate to share another song from 'Hang Time' ~ 'Allies' is out today and it's accompanied with a video directed by Ali Vanderkruyk that's premiering over at FLOOD Magazine. This song is in many ways the thesis of the album and I wrote a bunch of different versions before getting to this one about four years ago so it means a lot to finally be able to share it :’)  Thx again, always for listening and talk soon <3

~

Photo by Kristina Pedersen

[cedricnoel]

Hi folks, I'm so excited to finally share news of some new music :) My new album 'Hang Time' will come out November 12 in partnership with the wonderful labels Joyful Noise Recordings & Forward Music Group and for the first time in my solo discography will be pressed onto vinyl, tape and CD.

I made the album with one of my closest friends Steve Newton and had the good fortune to have contributions from friends and folks near and far <3 Thanks to Liam O'Neill, Lisa Conway, Ella Williams, Brigitte Naggar, Kathleen Speckert, Isaac Vallentin, Tim Crabtree, Ed Brooks, Yoon Rachel Nam, Ryan Hover for lending their time and talent to this project.

I feel so grateful to have the beautiful cover shot by Vancouver-based photographer Kriss Munsya and artwork from Maria José da Veiga Coutinho (my mum!) :) I'll have lots more to say and share about the album in the coming months but for now you can listen to the first song off the record 'Comuu' and watch the wonderful lyric video made by JNR's own Ryan Hover. I've been holding on to these songs for a couple years now so it feels good to let one of them go :)

Thx, always for listening <3

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hang-time

~

Photo by Kristina Pedersen

[cedricnoel]

I'm so happy to announce that after ten years of an independent musical life I've partnered up with two of my favourite record labels, Joyful Noise Recordings & Forward Music Group :) We've been working together since the winter and we'll be releasing some new music this fall, more deets to come soon. In the meantime to celebrate we're releasing a brand new master of Nighttime (Skin) ~ Bandcamp only ~ and for the next four days any money made from the song will go straight to the amazing Nia Centre for the Arts ~ I hope you're able to enjoy some sun today <3 https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/track/nighttime-skin-2

Photo by Isaac Vallentin Video by Ryan Hover

[cedricnoel]

Pattering is now up on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. for all you dedicated streamers. I wanted to say thanks so much for your kind words on this album. It's been so great to see people connecting and honestly overwhelming but in the best way <3 The joy of releasing and sharing music spontaneously is almost unparalleled for me. :) If you're curious, check out below, in no particular order, some of the records that helped me make this album. Some recommendations of music that helped guide me making these pieces over that past few years. Thx to those for making these works, this music was big for me: meditations – IN/VIA pet names – s. ayton Raw Silk Uncut Wood – Laurel Halo on – Desert Bloom Chunk – New Issue Water Memory – Emily Sprague YTAMO – MI WO Nepenthe – Juliana Barwick Interplay – YlangYlang Hundreds of Days – Mary Lattimore Both – Okay Kaya Sharing Waves – Cool Maritime Gave in Rest - Sarah Davachi Keyboard Fantasies - Beverly Glenn Copeland для FOR – Kate NV Anoyo – Tim Hecker No Home for the Mind – Bing & Ruth FRKWYS Vol. 14 – Nue - Tashi Wada with Yoshi Wada and Friends The Flower and the Vessel - Felicia Atkinson 1st set of loops – Lydia Third Album – Markus Floats ~ ~ ~ – Ana Roxanne Diffusion Is a Force – Martina Lussi Ruins – Grouper Aviary - Julia Holter Peter Broderick – Partners Crack up – Fleet Foxes Fools' Harp Vol. 1 – Fools The Space Between – Joanna Brouk The Sacrificial Code – Kali Malone All We Grow – S. Carey

[cedricnoel]

I’m so happy to release a new album called Patterning. As an end of year gift for friends. Mostly made up of ambient leaning instrumental pieces and loops that were improvised, composed and recorded after getting my first synthesizer a couple years ago. I naively recorded them for fun and for future reference through an old guitar amp with a USB microphone, which were the only tools I really had to capture them at the time. After sitting with them for a few months I grew attached to their structures and was then stuck with trying to make them listenable and somewhat palatable. After a number of attempts throughout the past couple years I arrived at something that felt appropriate to share this fall and whittled away until I was content. Along the way I asked some good friends to contribute to some of the pieces, with either very little or moderate instruction. I was curious to see what these collaborations would sound like without too much of my own input or being in the same room while recording. I’m so thankful to Emily, Eve, Alexia, Ryan, Scott, Mingjia, Tim, James, Rachel and Isaac for contributing such integral and beautiful parts of this project whilst being patient and kind with the giving of their time and talent <3 I hope these pieces bring some comfort and exploration throughout these inevitable tough coming months. Thx, always for listening.

~

recorded, produced and mixed by Cedric Noel on St. Joseph cello performed and recorded by Emily Kennedy on 1, 2, 6 violin performed and recorded by Eve Parker Finley on 2 vocals performed by Alexia Avina on 2, recorded by Ryan Severin drums, percussion, triangle performed and recorded by Scott Cuzner on 2 guzheng performed and recorded by Mingjia Chen on 3 saxophone, clarinet, flute performed and recorded by Tim Crabtree on 3 saxophone, vocals performed and recorded by James Goddard on 7 synthesizer, vocals by Cedric Noel photography by Rachel Nam design by Huot & Vallentin

FPR014

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/patterning

[cedricnoel]

A new single ~ Some thoughts on identity, black beauty and celebration ~ Recorded last year with one of my best friends Steve Newton, drums by the ever versatile Liam O'Neill and photo & design by even taller than I neighbour Isaac Vallentin (Huot & VallentIn). Big thank you to Brendan MaGee for all his help on releasing this one :) I feel lucky to be able to work and be supported by these folks ~ Big hug to you all & thx you for listening <3

~

written by Cedric Noel recorded by Steve Newton at The Pines and by Cedric Noel on Glynn produced by Cedric Noel with Steve Newton mixed by Steve Newton with Cedric Noel drums by Liam O’Neill guitars, bass, vocals by Cedric Noel mastered by Evan Tighe photography and design by Huot & Vallentin

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/nighttime-skin

[cedricnoel]

~ Celebrating Bandcamp day with a couple new Special Solace singles :) ~ Written sometime early last year and finished promptly not so long ago. I hope they can bring you joy, comfort, even make you dance? Any money made from these in the next month will be sent to the Nia Centre for the Arts. 

https://niacentre.org/ 

Big hug, stay safe and keep fighting <3 

written by Cedric Noel recorded, produced and performed by Cedric Noel on Saint Joseph and The Pines 

photography by Fatine-Violette Sabiri 

https://somespecialsolace.bandcamp.com/album/dreamboat-3-intro

[cedricnoel]

After a couple weeks of going back and forth between the studio and my home to attempt to capture some adequate and real performances with classical guitar, voice, synthesizer and piano, I’m happy to release a small album of songs titled ‘nothing forever, everything’. Written in the middle of a bizarre and heavy time last fall, I sat down with the title written and wrote seven of the eight songs in two evenings as a tried to create some kind of emotional and creative release through the form personal concerts for myself. It’s a swell thing to get to do from time to time and helps to process whatever has happened in a period of time. In any case, I turned out to really like them and felt they were whole enough to share.

They are in the order they were written, with the same initial titles and I added the first song which I had written some time before afterwards. I want to thank Michael Feuerstack, Corey Gulkin, Tim Crabtree (Paper Beat Scissors) and Rachel Nam for contributing to this project and being so up for working within a short and spontaneous space of time. :) For now the album lives bandcamp, where I think all music should belong. If enough of you would like a tape, I will make some.

I hope you find some comfort and release in these pieces. Thx u. Always. For listening <3

all songs written by Cedric Noel recorded, mixed by Cedric Noel on St. Joseph and The Pines vocals by Corey Gulkin on 4 vocals, pedal steel by Michael Feuerstack on 4, 6 vocals by Tim Crabtree on 6 guitars, vocals, synthesizer, piano by Cedric Noel photography by Rachel Nam

Thank you Isaac and Jonathan for your guitar Thank you Steve and Isaac for your pop filters

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-forever-everything

[cedricnoel]

I'm very stoked to say that next spring I get to head out on a string U.S. shows for the first time supporting bud Squirrel flower along with a couple Canadian dates as well. Big thanks to Ella for inviting me on this run, I'm feeling like one lucky pup!

~

Dates:

6/3 Mac 650 Art Gallery, Middletown, CT w/ Squirrel Flower 7/3 Great Scott, Boston, MA w/ Squirrel Flower 11/3 Rough Trade NYC, Brooklyn, NY w/ Squirrel Flower 12/3 Everybody Hits, Philadelphia, PA w/ Squirrel Flower 13/3 Songbyrd, Washington, DC w/ Squirrel Flower 10/4 The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON w/ Squirrel Flower 11/4 Casa Del Popolo, Montréal, QC w/ Squirrel Flower

~

Photo by Fatine-Violette Sabiri

[cedricnoel]

The new album ‘For Empty Pairs’ is out today. Available via bandcamp. I am making a very short run of tapes which are coming soon. If you want to reserve one please e-mail me. Thanks for listening.

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/for-empty-pairs

Photograph by Isaac Vallentin

[cedricnoel]

Reaching out and saying hello once again...Announcing a new album, "For Empty Pairs" recorded last year, with songs and compositions from many years ago compiled with pieces written late last summer. If you care to, you can listen to a piano piece from it called "Touch".

While I mostly recorded this music alone there were a small number of collaborators that helped and contributed to this spontaneous project...Emma Johnson who many years ago lent her strong voice on a song. Erin Bond who recorded said song. Evan Tighe who offered to me for the first time his finest mastering ears and skills. Heather Woods Broderick who was kind and gracious to let me us her photograph for the cover. And Huot & Vallentin who provided this simple and elegant album design. Many thank yous.

The album will come out November 20th. For the moment I don't plan to bother you much more about it. :) Thank you for listening.

https://cedricnoelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/for-empty-pairs