Mar 14, 2007

The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse-The Besnard Lakes

I think 2007 is shaping up as a great year in music. Here is another record that has captured my imagination. The Besnard Lakes hail from Montreal and their sound is reminiscent of past eras, but it still pleasantly fresh. Their second album is quite a beast, its definitely not background music, very hard to categorise, but this one will delight and surprise you in so many ways. Melancholy, experimental, bruising, dreamy are just some of the diverse adjectives I would use to describe this record. The band numbers six and is headed by husband and wife Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas. Lasek recorded the album at his Breakglass Studios in Montreal, where Islands, Sunset Rubdown and Wolf Parade have recorded in the past. Did someone just drop a magical music pill in Canadian waters recently? The opening two tracks "Disaster" and "For Agent 13" feature some of the most stunning, beautiful harmonies you will hear this year. Echoing the vocals of The Beach Boys you will just float into this record. The crashing drums and epic guitar however will prepare you for what comes next. "And You Lied To me" will leave you woozy, its almost psychedelic feel builds and builds into an overflow. Almost stoner rock, its a indication that this talented band will pull its music in all sorts of directions. Those 3 tracks are all great, but for me the heart of the album are the next two tracks. "Devastation" is a howling beast of a song featuring soaring vocals and thundering guitar. Then "Because Tonight" is the band showing its most creative side. Starting slowly, it rumbles menacingly into action, drawing you in with ethereal vocals, before halfway through the drums take over and pound a magical rhythm with the guitars. The vocals return, building to an epic climax. Magic for the ears. This is epic music, well worth tracking down, you won't be disappointed. Also, members of Stars, The Dears and Godspeed You! Black Emperor help out on various tracks.

Buy at Jagjaguwar. I have come to the conclusion that this might be the best label in the world.
MP3: And You Lied To Me

This also has me excited, trembling to be exact. Can someone please fly me to Austin?

Jagjaguwar will descend on Austin next week, to participate in the monumental sonic jubilee that is South By Southwest. Jag is hosting a split showcase with sister labels Secretly Canadian and Dead Oceans on the evening of Thursday, March 15 at Mohawk:

Inside stage:
8:00 - Dirty Projectors
9:00 - Frida Hyvonen
10:00 - Catfish Haven
11:00 - David Vandervelde
12:00 - Ladyhawk
1:00 - Evangelicals

Outside stage:
8:30 - The Besnard Lakes
9:30 - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
10:30 - Bishop Allen
11:30 - Richard Swift
12:45 - Okkervil River

Dan if you are reading this, please go and take lots of photos.

4 Comments:

  • At March 15, 2007 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    A great, great, great album this one. Probably end up on those end of year lists no doubt.

     
  • At March 15, 2007 , Blogger Jessie said...

    The album cover is great! I will look it up.

     
  • At March 16, 2007 , Blogger Jimmy Mac said...

    i love your description that "their sound is reminiscent of past eras" because i agree, i'd be apt to say (off the top of my head) that i hear some shoegazer-type pop of my bloody valentine and mazzy star. thanks for the recommendation- your page has become the first one i check nowadays!

     
  • At April 13, 2007 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    To my ears,this album is a wonderful collison of lots of different bands, almost an exact mix of the beach boys, early mercury rev, mazzy star, sigur ros and the arcade fire - epic, moving and pychedlic in equal measure. Top stuff!

     

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