The Hylozoists take me to magically and mysterious caverns of the mind without excess drug use or good old-fashioned mental craziness. A huge group of talented noisemakers, The Hylozoists started by Paul Aucoin (The Sadies, Bodega, Living Water Assembly) light my ear hairs on fire with their lush, full, pert and upright compositions. The band is thick and dripping with talented musicians and the mood that these folks create could stop any Parkdale '˜sketch' in their tracks and put them into a deep trance. After consuming several pints of Jesus juice, Matt Thomas stared at a large pink elephant that identified himself as Paul Aucoin and began to pick his brain.

IF YOU WERE BANISHED TO AN ISLAND AND COULD ONLY LISTEN TO ONE SONG, WHICH TRACK WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO LAST YOU FOREVER?
Interesting question. I would have to cheat and take a classical piece seeing that it could only be one song and that being said would be Mozart's Requiem. If required to pick a formal song though I would take the Beach Boys "God Only Knows" or perhaps The Zombies "A Rose For Emily".

IN A WORLD FULL OF LAZY JOURNALISTIC COMPARISONS, WHO HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE, LEAST FAVOURITE AND FUNNIEST "THEY ARE LIKE ______ ".
I like hearing the Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Bernard Herrmann references, hate anything that in anyway calls us a jam or jazz band and I do not think I have encountered funny one yet. And yes the world is very full of lazy journalistic comparisons but that is what happens when you don't expect writers to know hardly anything about music itself, just a world of tastes.

WHAT THE HELL ARE HYLOZOISTS?
Musically, a group of wonderful musicians that I am lucky to have around and playing with me. Historically, Greeks who thought that matter was alive and although they did not make any discoveries, realized that nature was far more complex then they were being led on to believe.

WHO THE HELL ARE THE HYLOZOISTS AND WHAT DO EACH OF YOU DO?
Paul Aucoin- I play Vibraphone&Bells.
Jason Tait- Vibraphone&Bells
Patrick Conan- Vibraphones, Bells&Drums.
Jason Ball- Organ
Paul Loman- Bass
Wayne Petti- Piano
Nathan Lawr has given way for Rob Gordon on drums.
Julie Penner- Violin
Jeremy Strachan- Guitar
Bryden Baird appears sometimes and plays his horn parts.

WHERE DO YOU WISH YOUR MUSIC WOULD GET PLAYED, AND COULD YOU MAKE LOVE WHILE IT'S ON?
The loudspeakers of Stanley Cup 2006. And No.

WITH BELLS, THEREMINS, SYNTH, MARIMBAS, VIBRAPHONES, WOODWINDS... AND BEARS OH MY... WHAT DO YOU LONG TO ADD TO YOUR MUSICOLOGICAL PHIL SPECTOR LIKE WALL OF SOUNDS?
I cannot think of an answer but my roommate believes that the answer should be the gong. I think Jason and Patrick would vote gong as well.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL ONCE SAID ABOUT THE HYLOZOISTS, "SOMETIMES THE MUSIC FEELS LIKE A RAPIDLY OXIDIZING SURFACE THAT TRANSFERS A FINE, SILVERY DUST AT THE LEAST TOUCH. IT ADVERTISES ITS OWN IMPERMANENCE." WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK ABOUT PEOPLE TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO AND HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN IT BETTER?
Trying to explain music is like dancing about art. I feel bad for people that have to try to describe music in print.

HOW HAS THE MYSTERIOUS AND FOLKLORE FILLED LAND OF NOVA SCOTIA INFLUENCED THE HYLOZOISTS?
Well it's a beautiful place to live and that has helped me write music. Halifax is also a great city to grow up in because of all its school music programs, hence why I play the vibraphone.

LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC MAKES ME FEEL LIKE SITTING. I'M SITTING IN THE KORDOVA MILK BAR TOTALLY STONED AND JUST SMILING AND THE SUN'S OUT AND MY PANTS ARE FUCKING TIGHT AND I'M GETTING ALL KINDS OF HOT LOOKS. IS THIS
AT ALL SIMILAR TO YOUR LIVE SHOW OR IS THERE MORE? I MUST KNOW!
I do hope that our live show is like that for you. There are enough musicians on stage that I hope anyone ends up in some sort of splendor.

WHAT DRIVES Y'ALL TO MAKE MUSIC AND WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE HYLOZOISTS?
I will always write music and I hope that it keeps coming out as The Hylozoists with this group of musicians. We are looking forward to releasing a record in the fall. It is all done and called La Fin Du Monde. We are
looking for it's home right now and playing live shows through the fall.

WHAT IS NO ONE LISTENING TO THAT MAKES THEM ALL IDIOTS FOR MISSING OUT?
That would have to be Colin Blunstone's One Year and Mark Wirtz Teenage
Opera. These records are old and available so no one has any excuse not to
know them.

By Matt Thomas