We Speak Indie Artist
SH|333|N Taps Into Late-Night Tension On “Roll Up”
A certain type of track sounds even better after midnight. “Roll Up” from SH|333|N sits firmly in that space, where sound systems do half the storytelling, and the rest comes from pressure in the room.
Built alongside Noah Lloyd, the track keeps its ideas tight. Its structure feels deliberate, with space playing a key role in how the energy unfolds. The pacing creates a sense of anticipation that never quite lets go, even as the track moves forward.
The inclusion of Flowdan shifts everything up a level. His vocal cuts through with a kind of authority that feels lived-in rather than decorative. It is not just a feature or sample; it is the spine of the track.
What stands out is how locked-in the whole thing feels. Nothing drifts, nothing feels accidental. “Roll Up” is engineered for movement, but it is just as effective in how it controls energy as how it releases it. That balance is what gives it replay value beyond the dancefloor.
Plain Mister Smith returns with Bric-À-Brac Attack, a beautifully offbeat collection of indie-folk, pop and atmospheric songwriting. Released via Amelia Records, the album finds the Vancouver and London-based multi-hyphenate turning fragments of memory, relationships and everyday absurdity into something quietly cinematic.
At its centre is “Grindavik”, a shimmering, reflective track inspired by the Icelandic town shaped by recent volcanic activity. Bright acoustic guitars and steady drums carry a constantly shifting chord progression, mirroring the song’s central metaphor of a relationship under pressure and the hope that its fissures can eventually heal. Featuring Jordan Klassen and Kitt, the track captures the emotional tension that runs throughout the album.
Elsewhere, Bric-À-Brac Attack moves effortlessly between playful guitar-driven moments, lush arrangements and more introspective passages. “Miss Sunshine” brings infectious energy, while collaborations with Findlay Brown, Leeroy Stagger, Krystle Dos Santos and Tyson Mostenbocher add colour to an already eclectic record.
Former guitarist of Canadian darkwave band Moev and a cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Plain Mister Smith brings an unusually broad musical perspective to his songwriting. Yet Bric-a-Brac attack never feels overly calculated. Instead, it has the charm of something discovered rather than constructed.
Warm, strange, melodic and emotionally searching, Bric-À-Brac Attack is a record that rewards getting lost in its details. Plain Mister Smith may remain deliberately mysterious, but the music itself speaks with remarkable clarity.
Photo credit: Sandra Lockwood
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