Saturday, July 16, 2022

Canuck Spotlight: Ian Blurton

Some musicians are around for years yet release a new project that sounds so fresh that the newer generation of music fans are under the impression this “new band” they’ve just discovered has only been formed in recent years. Such seems to be the case with Ian Blurton, a Canuck musician/singer/producer worthy of recognition on the Harbinger’s Canuck Spotlight. Blurton has been a part of the Canadian music scene since the early ‘80s, believe it or not. He was even the drummer for one of my favorite indie Canadian folk bands back in the day, Cowboy Junkies.

He went on to become lead singer/guitarist and songwriter for the alternative band Change of Heart from 1982 to 1997. From that point forward, Ian formed a number of bands including Blurtonia and C’mon, also releasing a solo album in 2009. He produced albums for bands such as The Lowest of the Low, Rheostatics, and Cursed, among many others. One of the most interesting bands he was a part of was/is the Toronto hard rock outfit Public Animal (Bandcamp link below) which was active from 2013 until at least early 2019—and might still be around today. Check them out if you get a chance, their music is well worth your time. In the summer of 2019, Ian released another tremendous solo record, Signals Through the Flames, which blends proto rock and all the best parts of ‘80s glam and hair rock/metal.

Fast forward to now, July 2022, and Mr. Blurton is back with another awesome band under the moniker Ian Blurton's Future Now. Their new record is titled Second Skin and it couldn’t have been more appropriately titled, feeling like a very natural evolution of everything that came beforehand musically from this uber-talented musician. It feels like a Blue Oyster Cult-influenced sludge/proto/hard rock album, to give you an idea of what to expect. Just in time for the warm weather so you can blast it at barbecues and pool parties or when you’re driving long stretches of road and you need some old school rock to set you at ease and keep you going.

Whether it’s at the helm of a new project in one of the many subgenres of rock or working on a solo record, you can rest assured that Ian Blurton won’t cease to surprise and delight us with some terrific music for many more years to come. Whatever kind of rock you dig, I’m sure you’ll find something in Blurton’s discography to your liking, so give his albums a spin, you’ll be glad you did!

Ian Blurton on Bandcamp: https://ianblurton.bandcamp.com/

Public Animal on Bandcamp: https://publicanimal.bandcamp.com/

Ian Blurton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ianblurton 

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