Hinterland by Horsechops
“Horse Chops sound like a smoke and a Pepsi for lunch” — their words, not mine.
I’d put it this way: Corner Brook’s Horse Chops are cooking up garage rock loaded with high-energy riffs and sticky-sweet melodies… and if that’s what a Pepsi-and-a-smoke lunch sounds like, I’ve clearly been depriving myself.
It’s an indie-pop gem.
Their new four-track EP Hinterland dropped yesterday, and I’ve already run it a dozen times. The title track — and opening tune — hooked me instantly. It’s an indie-pop gem with a whimsical, lo-fi charm, all jangly guitars and throwback melodies that land with a fresh-but-familiar feel.
It’s absolutely worth a listen. Go check out Hinterland on Bandcamp or wherever you stream your music.
Nostalgia
For me—and probably anyone who grew up on CBC-TV in the early 80s—the word hinterland instantly brings back memories of those short wildlife vignettes produced by the Canadian Wildlife Service. They were quiet, nature-filled slices of Canadiana, tucked between kids’ shows and documentaries, and they’ve since become a small but unmistakable piece of Canadian pop-culture history.
So it was a great surprise to learn that Horse Chops’ ‘Hinterland’ not only shares the name, but includes a lyrical wink to those classic shorts. It’s a clever touch.
I’m obsessed with music from Newfoundland and Labrador…
It’s fresh, wild, and full of surprises. The artists here are pumping out so much new stuff, it’s hard to keep up. So, I started a playlist of my faves—tons of genres, but the only rule is they’re local and totally repeat-worthy. I update it regularly, so follow along (on Spotify, Apple Music or Youtube).
Trust me, there’s a ton of good stuff coming your way.
