Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph adds a poetic voice to the Edmonton folk scene. The word that comes to mind when hearing his music is peaceful. His images are vibrant yet simple. His music is quiet, yet intense at the same time, whether he writes of simply staring into a fire or about a young woman meeting her ex-convict father for the first time.



He released his debut album, Taraba: to sing poetry, in April of 2005. It was “CD of the week” on CKUA, and was nominated as one of the Andy Donnelly’s Celtic Show top 10 albums for 2005.



The Ridges are friends and acquaintances of Michael, whom he named after the longest mountain chain on Earth.



Much like Alan Parsons before him, Michael Joseph is the mind behind the hired guns. The Ridges are a variety of talents from the Edmonton, Alberta music scene, many of whom have emerging and successful careers of their own. Taraba, while not entirely thematic, is certainly cohesive. Joseph has gracefully combined original and existing poetry with musical expressions that suit and embellish. Specifically, the voices of Darren [Frank] and Kelly Alanna personify beautifully the characters and moods that slip from song to song in an almost mystical journey. At first listen this disc almost passed right by me. It is worth a bit of deeper attention.
-by Chris Martin Penguin Eggs Summer 2006



Currently, Michael is working with Volya Baziuk (vocals, guitar) and Steve McGonigle (bass) on a new musical project, a group called “XOVO”, an intimate sound that conveys Volya’s and Michael’s songwriting styles and the trio’s chemistry. XOVO has played a number of shows, and is presently recording their debut album, which will be released before the end of the world.