Arts

The next time you’re skimming the racks at Aunt Olive’s, perhaps you should take your search to a more subterranean level and discover Ottawa’s newest indie record store, The Record Shaap.

Opened Aug. 13 at 209 Gilmour St., the Record Shaap carries a variety of different bands and artists, along with offering every format from CD to vinyl.

But don’t let the double “a” confuse you — the name is not meant to be said with a Boston accent.

It’s a big decision — Times New Roman or Arial? Which one will look better? Does it really make a difference?

The answer is yes.

Typography is known as the “unconscious persuader,” and it’s everywhere — influencing the movies we see, the coffee we drink and the products we buy.

“If you do like something, it’s because of the type, even if you don’t realise it,” said Andrea Emery, a professor of graphic design at Algonquin College.

Straight Line
Christina Maria
Vissen Records

Singer-songwriter Christina Maria’s sophomore album Straight Line mixes folk, pop and acoustic in an attempt to emulate the greats. Unfortunately, Maria’s soft, likable voice is hampered by dull, repetitive lyrics.

Each song deals with love, revisiting it in the same, tired fashion. Maria wouldve been better to ditch the overly complex metaphors for simple, straightup fare which would better match her laidback melodies.

A mix of whimsical urban- and rural-inspired tunes with unique lyrics, Forest City Lovers recently released their sophomore album, Carriage, and are currently touring Canada and the northeastern United States. The Charlatan’s Courtney White recently caught up with singer and lyricist Kat Burns to discuss musical growth, humour and trains of thought.

The Charlatan (TC): How does your new album differ from Haunting Moon Sinking?

For curator Stefan St-Laurent, all it took was one photograph to help inspire him to put together Bodies in Trouble, the current exhibit at the SAW Gallery.

The photo resulted from a potent combination of elements: one person in danger, another who would risk their own life to save the other’s, and photographer  Rocco Morabito being at the right place at the right time.

Morabito’s 1967 photograph “The Kiss of Life” was St-Laurent’s muse when trying to get pieces to fill the basement gallery.