Sylvie

Initially evident, besides the long, adrenalised songs, was an unearthly communion between bassist Riva Farrell Racette and drummer Jeff Romanyk. Racette can really sing also and played her instrument like Geddy Lee on speed. This is a Regina-based, precision-tooled progressive rock band with a dash of Manic Street Preachers and Synchronicity-era Police. Frankly, no one in Canadian music these days makes a sound like this. Sylvie did, with synthesised keyboard loops and teasing washes of guitar squall over the driving beats from that amazing rhythm section. Arenas, cold and silent as tombs, await their crazed sound.