Eugene Ripper might not be mistaken for Canadian music artists like the late greats Leonard Cohen and Ian Tyson. But the Toronto-based punk folk pioneer has put his own unique spin on their signatures with the gorgeous double-A side release featuring Cohen's memorable "Hallelujah" and Tyson's timeless "Four Strong Winds." It's a pair of covers which stay true to the originals while also adding subtle but quite tasteful atmospherics and accents to both.

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"In the summer of 2024, I emerged from the studio with my take on these two Canadian folk classics featuring a mash up of analog instrumentation merged with some trippy electronic grooves, beats and digital soundscapes," Ripper says. "This approach is not unfamiliar ground for me. Throughout my solo recording career, I've had a proclivity to bend, fold, and manipulate sonic structures, and I reckon this stance is projected with this new release."

Eugene Ripper, the trailblazing fast folk rocker and Canadian punk pioneer, delivers us a raucous bang of dirty guitars and stomping boots as he releases his latest digital single, "Battle of the Punks and Pushers." This electrifying release coincides with his upcoming CA/EU/UK tour, which kicks off in Toronto in September 2023. Check it out on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/eugeneripper

Ripper, a seasoned veteran and undeniable talent of the Canadian punk scene, cut his rock and roll teeth as a founding guitarist in the first-wave Canadian surf punkabilly rockers Stark Naked & The Fleshtones. Ripper's musical journey has been nothing short of remarkable. After his time with the Fleshtones, he embarked on a solo career that has spanned decades, characterized by a unique synthesis of punk, folk, roots, and rock. This mixing bowl of tonal expressions allowed Ripper to forge his own path to dirty musical heaven.

Pioneer of the punk rock fast folk movement, Eugene Ripper is back with an electrifying new single "Folk Song 3000" accompanied by the powerful B-side "Go Van Gogh" and series of shows for 2023. Steeped in the rich heritage of folk music infused with a contemporary twist, these tracks showcase Ripper's distinctive song writing and musical prowess. Check them out on YouTube here: