Album Notes

From Canadian media pages to cabaret stages to… a pig farm in Bali?

When Skidmore suddenly vanished in 2003, it was reported that her alter ego, Bob Loblaw wasn’t just an act. She was in Bangkok getting a sex change.

But the truth that took the former Hour magazine Arts Editor and Skidsofrenic columnist, Montreal Gazette book writer, and Kiss My Cabaret hellboy to Southeast Asia was far more wrought. She accidentally fell in love.

There, in the last bastion of non-tourist North Bali beach, next to the Mosque, behind the Hindu Monkey Temple, on a mosquito-fevered no-gods’ land, Skidmore put her words to play to create an East meets West CD, A Shrinking Violent.

Driven by textured narratives woven with field recordings, classical music, and original music by Jackie Gallant, A Shrinking Violent tracks a motley cast following an incident with a haunting, insatiable entity and piece of unripe fruit. Canadian socialized medicine, Islam and the American cowboy, the vengeful spirits of Bali Hinduism, lust, longing, and the inconvenience of love take centre stage with the modern madwoman.

Awoken from a dream, Evelyn’s nightmare begins.

A Shrinking Violent stars

Alexis O’Hara, as Evelyn Pierce
Stephen Lawson, as Allister, Nurse Bruce, Jonah
Aaron Pollard, as Onan the Barbarian, Benjamin Dover
Jon Anderson, as newsman Stew Roganoff
Serena the pig, as herself
and Bob Loblaw as the talking sphincter

Narrated by Skidmore

This project was made possible by OBORO new media artist assistance, and the Canada Council for the Arts

a Pay Per Verse production

A Shrinking Violent was produced with 100% recycled paper and plastic