Canada seems like an unlikely haven for a minimal synth/neofolk project with a very European-style sound, but that said, here are two of my favorite LPs from up north.
Magic Dragon formed from the wake of Private School, a punk band who released one single in 1979. Members Maddy Schenkel and Ron Nelson quickly formed Magic Dragon, enlisting bassist Rachel Melas to record their lone LP Emotional Landscape, which was released in 1981 on Friends Records. The album combined the folky interplay of bands such as Steeleye Span and Mellow Candle with minimal electronics, skittering drum machines, and experimental passages, creating a singular sound that few bands, especially on the western hemisphere, were flirting with. Some other touchstones I can think in this vein are UV Pop, Mekanik Kommando, Solid Space, Les Joyaux De La Princesse, Collection D’arnell~Andrea, and Modern Art, all of which flirted with folkier and experimental influences over their tenure.
Magic Dragon soon evolved, adding violin player Rod Booth. The band changed their name in 1983 to Courage of Lassie (keeping the nostalgic/childhood magic and wonder alive in name), and self-released a cassette in 1984 that featured, amongst new material, the first track from the Magic Dragon LP. Their core folky/minimal synth hybrid sound remained intact, and the band soon recorded The Temptation to Exist, which consisted of a handful of songs from the cassette, a couple of new tracks, and a haunting cover of Pete Seger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” done in Marlene Deitrich’s German-vocal style. This LP was originally released in 1986 via Amok Records, but has been re-released in 1987 and 1991, respectively. The band would release two more albums (1988’s Sing or Die and 1994’s This Side of Heaven) before calling it a day.
While folks may have heard both of these records before, I’m happy to provide newly digitized versions. Hope y’all enjoy!
Magic Dragon – Emotional Landscape (1981)
1. Objet Du Desire
2. Memories
3. Egyptian Radio
4. Once Upon a Time
5. (White Monkey) Under the Volcano
Courage of Lassie – The Temptation to Exist (1986)
1. All That I Know
2. Iron
3. Hiroshima
4. The Rose
5. Hopes & Fears
6. La Notte
7. Sag Mir Wo Die Blumen Sind
8. Air Du Temps
Be sure to visit the band on Facebook.