August 12, 1998
Jam
Music
      Artists A-Z
      Album Reviews
      Concert Reviews
      Concert Listings
      SoundScan Charts
      Lowdown Column
      Pop Encyclopedia

Movies
Television
Video
Theatre
Books
Country




ENT Blog
RSS Feed

MACCA



Wild Strawberries ripe for Lilith
By JOSHUA OSTROFF


In the long illustrious line of husband and wife musical teams -- from Sonny and Cher to the Captain and Tenille -- few broke any musical boundaries. But that hasn't held back the Wild Strawberries, an eclectic duo ripe for the picking at this Friday's Lilith Fair.

Riding on the modest success of Quiver -- their most recent release on Nettwerk Records -- lead singer Roberta Carter Harrison and her more musically inclined husband Ken Harrison will be joining the fair for the second year in a row.

But concert-goers can expect a more diverse show this time around, with a major focus on electronic elements.

"We were listening to Panasonic, Mouse From Mars and DJ Shadow. I think what you listen to -- what you're enjoying -- is going to come back out in the wash somehow," says Carter Harrison, explaining the presence of drum loops and synth squiggles while on the telephone from her home in Toronto.

But don't think the Strawberries are merely jumping on the "electronica" bandwagon. As far as she is concerned, it's all a lot of media hype. "To tell you the truth, I don't even know if electronic stuff is selling that well. We just like listening to it."

The band began as a five-piece in 1989 -- one year after Roberta and Ken were married and one year before the two graduated from the University of Toronto. Eventually, the other members of the band left until only the happy couple remained.

"We are a total team. Anybody else would probably tell you honestly they felt like the odd man out," says Carter Harrison. "Maybe that's why it's easier to be a two-person band and hire the other guys."

So that's what they did. Eight additional musicians (several from McLachlan's band) were hired to help out in the studio for the production of Quiver, their fifth album.

Although the music and lyrics on the release are credited to "Wild Strawberries," there is a definite division of labor going on. Ken Harrison is the "musical architect" whose fondness for rare keyboards, orchestral arrangements and strange noises gives the music its aural complexity.

"It used to be entirely Ken, start to finish," says Carter Harrison. "I just felt like the singing was really where my talent was. But on this record we co-wrote some of the lyrics together. So that was another evolution. I really enjoyed it. It was cool."


HOT MUSIC HEADLINES
Kathleen Edwards in T.O.
2012 Grammy Awards preview
Winehouse coroner suspended
'TLC' singer's bankruptcy case tossed
McCartney rehearses for Grammys
Whitney Houston dead at 48
Grammy stars honour McCartney
Live Review: City and Colour in T.O
Springsteen set to kick off Grammys
V-Day theme tops CD reviews
More Headlines
Meet Blue Ivy Carter
Madonna calls out M.I.A. gesture
Adele sings for Anderson Cooper
Canuck Grammy class of 2012
Gotye speaks on Walk Off signing
Elton seeks advice on raising son
Pickler considering adoption
Adele brushes off 'fat' comment
McCartney gets Walk of Fame star
Brown loses bid to end probation


Who's coming and when
Want to know when your favourite band is coming to town? Check out Clive, JAM Music's extensive Canadian concert listings.
TV Listings
Wondering what's on tonight? Check out our TV listings for the complete schedule in your area.
Movie Listings
Find out what's playing at a theatre near you.

1. Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas

2. Adele: 21

3. Lana Del Rey: Born To Die

4. Various: 2012 Grammy Noms

5. Gotye: Making Mirrors

Courtesy Nielsen SoundScan Cda








What did you think of Madonna’s halftime show?
She’s still got it
I wasn’t impressed


Results