Muskox, a Toronto-based post-minimalist band, was formed by Toronto multi-instrumentalist and composer Michael Smith in August of 2006 for the Bummer in the Summer music festival. Since that time, the group has released three mini-cds – Caveman Caveman Crystal Skulls (2006), Fever Dream (2007), and Gallantries (2008), all available at Soundscapes (572 College st.), through muskoxhq.net , or from Mike directly.
Muskox is the quintessence of the D.I.Y. ethic: all the music is composed, recorded, and mixed by Michael Smith at his home. In addition, Smith has also designed and printed all of the CD artwork, and even built a number of the instruments used in his compositions. The compositions themselves achieve that rare synthesis of appealing accessibility and an adventurous, avant-garde aesthetic. Using refreshingly creative instrumentation (the combination pedal-steel, vibraphone, harmonium, Fender Rhodes, banjo, double bass, and saxophone on Gallantries is especially novel), and drawing on an eclectic variety of influences (including Frank Zappa, Town & Country, Captain Beefheart, and Edgar Meyer), Smith interweaves memorable melodies set in contrasting metrical patterns to achieve a complex rhythmic nexus that hypnotizes without bewildering.
Muskox features some of Toronto’s finest musicians from across a variety of genres: classical percussionist Jamie Drake (vibraphone, cajon), improviser and performance artist Matthew Dunn (banjo, pedal steel), and jazz musicians Ali Berkok, Mark Laver, and Pete Johnston (keyboards, saxophone, and double bass, respectively) play Smith’s music with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement that is plainly evident in live performance and on the recordings.
