By Divine Right Hybrid TV Genii. Release Date : April 3, 2004. Label: Linus Entertainment. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. Well well, how cute. By Divine Right has long been a pillar of just-plain-fun-and-loving music in this country, and this little mini-release is no exception. The band has a new full-length album (Sweet Confusion) that came out in July 2004, but a few months earlier, this six-song collection appeared. It doesn't seem to really be retailing anywhere conventional, but if you like By Divine Right's previous work, you'll also be into this, and you can pick it up from Pure Tracks. I mean, surely it must retail somewhere, but I can't find it on any music shop websites. Anyways, where did this echoey background vocal bopping Beatles-y tune come from? The disc opens with "Psychic Radio," and gives off a very "Hard Days' Night" sort of party vibe. This band is just so bloody charming. "Backseat" has this dingling bit to it that turns it instantly into a lullaby. Add José Miguel Contrera's gentle, soothing voice to that, and you can truly use this to send your wee ones to happy dreamland. Or yourself for that matter. It's not the wordiest of songs (dreams dreams dreams dreams dreams dreams...), but that gives it the cute, childlike feeling and keeps the song with such pure, simple thoughts. No masks to hide behind here. "Rad Fan Motor" will wake you back up again with an assortment of vaguely Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet (think Kids In The Hall) wacky guitars and general mayhem. This one's an instrumental track. I keep waiting for vocals to kick in. They never do. I wouldn't say that's exactly a shame, but it just feels like there should at least be a 'woo' in there somewhere. "R U Ready" slows things down again a bit with another adorable tune filled with chorusy 'la-la-la-las.' Everyone digs into the songs and sings along. It's quite comforting. The tempo heads back up with "Soul Shakedown Party." The title is pretty adequate for describing what the song is like. The disc ends with a simple tune that answers the first track, "Psychic AM Radio." It's just got a swimmy Wurlitzer and percussion with Contrera's rolling voice over top. The percussion sounds like it could be part of Stomp Lite, if there was such a thing. You know, the groups that create truly industrial music out of garbage cans and egg beaters and stuff like that? Or maybe it's more like some kids on the street with pails and spoons. It tails off in the end to a drifty vocal and chiming noises, like a church choir, but then ends really abruptly. Interesting tune. I have a tale about this band. Sort of. In 2003, I was in Toronto for the NXNE festival, and happened by the Rivoli on my first night. Brian Borcherdt, who is part of By Divine Right, had played a night-opening set there, with the support of his BDR bandmates. Some point late in the evening, when everyone was full of love and laughter from a friendly and warm evening, Borcherdt caught Contrera's attention as he wandered past and introduced us. He was as gentle a spirit as I could have ever imagined him to be, and a few minutes after he left our sides, he found his way back to me and held out one closed hand. "Here, open your palm." I did, and he placed in my hand a small, shiny piece of amethyst. He said a friend had given it to him, and that it should continue to be passed along to someone special. So that small gem will make its way through the world like a friendship cake. But you see, it's that sort of understated generosity and spirituality that he expressed in the flesh that comes across so easily when the band performs as well. They all share this amazing higher consciousness, and use it to be great people, and to just embrace life and have fun. By Divine Right wants you to have fun too. By all means, don't disappoint them! Lyric of choice : The whole cute "Backseat" song... not included oft-repeated words, there's houses / with people / there's cars / for miles / and you / there's only one of you. The whole tune continues on that theme. Awwwww. Song of choice : Oh, they all have their charms. But I think for its carefree 'woohoo' aspects, "Soul Shakedown Party" takes it by a narrow margin. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere By Divine Right website Published : August 6, 2004.