artist The Wallscenery Demos

wallscenery demos - a musical project fronted by james hicken that was realized in the mid 2000s in Toronto. The self-titled independent release (april 2008) was praised as a concept album that played seamlessly from beginning to end. Aside from a supporting show for Jay Sad and Ex-Po and a few acoustic appearances by james with northwest division after its release, the debut album was largely promoted by word of mouth as well as reviews and features in music publications/blogs.

While splitting time between Toronto and New York City, wsd released the 2nd album entitled check this! September 29, 2009. The album includes pop hooks, atmospheric sounds, samples from city life in Toronto and New York, as well as complex sonic textures. Check this! also includes the use of thematic interludes to tie songs together to create an atmosphere heavy album meant for listening to as a whole.

2011 brings wsd's 3rd release-  half asleep. half awake (may 3, 2011). The album is a departure from wsd's collage of short songs and interludes. It explores a topic close to the songwriter's life - relocation - in layered melodies that build to a peak, recede into a whisper, and always tell a story.