Biography
While mentions of Canadian rock acts often evoke the Guess Who or Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Toronto quartet I Mother Earth offers a contemporary take that weaves together jazz fusion, funk, and progressive rock. Their sound further incorporates touches of fellow Canadians Rush along with such varied artists as Santana and King Crimson, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus, and Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins, resulting in a broad stylistic collage. The band came together in Toronto in 1990, featuring vocalist Edwin, bassist Bruce Gordon, and brothers Jagori Tanna on guitar and vocals plus Christian Tanna on drums. After signing with Capitol, their hard-hitting 1993 debut album Dig generated equal measures of confusion and praise. Edwin’s intricate lyrics nodded toward progressive rock outfits like Rush and Yes even as his singing remained distinctive; the rhythm section delivered tight funk grooves reminiscent of a modern James Brown, while the group’s emphasis on percussion echoed Santana’s approach. Guitarist Tanna shifted from Red Hot Chili Peppers–style rhythms on “Rain Will Fall” to Stevie Ray Vaughan–inflected blues on “So Gently We Go” and the Woodstock-era Latin intensity of Carlos Santana on “No One.” The concurrent rise of another Toronto outfit, Our Lady Peace, added further obstacles. Undeterred, the quartet pushed boundaries even wider on their next release, aware that such versatility rarely translated into commercial success for rock bands, particularly those from Canada. They enlisted percussionists Luis Conte and Daniel Mansilla, keyboardist Ken Pearson, and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson for the 1996 album Scenery and Fish, crafting another ambitious statement of genre resistance. Even the comparatively accessible “One More Astronaut” featured abrupt shifts and unusual meters, with additional explorations into blues on “Three Days Old,” percussion-driven material on the opening “Hello Dave!,” brisk funk via “Used to Be Alright,” acoustic textures on “Shortcut to Monelon,” and King Crimson–style updated metal on “Pisser.” After parting ways with Capitol, the group waited three years before issuing Blue Green Orange in 1999. Released through Mercury in Canada yet less readily available in the U.S., the album broadened I Mother Earth’s already extensive sonic range, as did the import collection Earth Sky and Everything in Between, which gathered acoustic remixes and live recordings.
Albums
