There’s no need for voice when your songs speak volumes. aKido’s ballads are instrumental, yet it feels like each xylophone note, guitar riff, or even the loud echo of the bass are guest performers on each track. Fade-Up is made of genuine fragmented beats, while Cause célèbre is subtle and aerial. On China Babies, aKido creates a dreamy vision of some foreign country I don’t know much about, and it magically becomes very personal and intimate. And finally, Reaction Shot, perhaps my favourite song from the artist, would be a great addition to the soundtrack of my life – if only I had one.
Sometimes he leaves on tour in Europe and elsewhere in North America, but he always finds the time to play Montréal. You can catch him in different venues around the city. You won’t notice any real change between a sweaty, fully-loaded performance at Divan Orange and a bigger outdoor gig at the Jazz Festival: no matter how many people there are, no matter where he’s playing, aKido is still one of Montréal’s best live musicians. And if you can’t catch one of his shows, pick up his latest CD while in town and a get the pulse of the city.
Listen to aKido’s music on his MySpace page, and get the latest info about his upcoming shows on his official website.
