Montreal-based unit Bent By Elephants are set to return with their new LP The Shore next week, but you can give it an early listen right now on Exclaim.ca.
The band have made some changes since releasing This Is Water back in 2010, losing a member and shifting away the orchestral folk sound of the last record. In addition to experimenting with electric guitars and synths, the new album was also inspired by life events. Drummer Eric Drew lost his house in a fire, bassist Paul VanDyk had a baby, and singer/guitarist Chesley Walsh and lead guitarist Luke Fowlie exchanged "I do's."
Further shaping the new sound, the band brought in Michael Feuerstack to produce the album. "Michael's guidance was invaluable," said trumpeter/keyboardist Ryan Frizzell in a statement. "He really helped us to solidify our vision of the record and to understand how to realize it."
The Shore was recorded and mixed at the Treatment Room (home of Plants & Animals) with resident engineer Gilles Castilloux.
The final product delivers a range of sonic exploration, from upbeat indie rockers like "Disco Smile" to the bluesy riffs and funky rhythm of "Dark and Stormy" to the bombastic horn breakdowns on "Better Your Friends" to the melancholy folk vibes of penultimate track "The Hills."
The guitar work, paired with Walsh's at times angelic but always emotive vocals, interweave themselves throughout each song, bringing the more experimental elements together cohesively.
You can catch the new sound live at the band's upcoming tour dates, which are listed below. Scroll past the upcoming shows to listen to The Shore before it officially arrives on February 17 via Sunset Hill Music.
You can pre-order the album here.
Tour dates:
02/17 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
02/22 Guelph, ON - Cornerstone
02/23 London, ON - APK
02/24 Brantford, ON - Brantford Arts Centre
02/25 Hamilton, ON - The Casbah
02/27 Toronto, ON - Dakota Tavern
02/28 Kitchener, ON - The Boathouse
The band have made some changes since releasing This Is Water back in 2010, losing a member and shifting away the orchestral folk sound of the last record. In addition to experimenting with electric guitars and synths, the new album was also inspired by life events. Drummer Eric Drew lost his house in a fire, bassist Paul VanDyk had a baby, and singer/guitarist Chesley Walsh and lead guitarist Luke Fowlie exchanged "I do's."
Further shaping the new sound, the band brought in Michael Feuerstack to produce the album. "Michael's guidance was invaluable," said trumpeter/keyboardist Ryan Frizzell in a statement. "He really helped us to solidify our vision of the record and to understand how to realize it."
The Shore was recorded and mixed at the Treatment Room (home of Plants & Animals) with resident engineer Gilles Castilloux.
The final product delivers a range of sonic exploration, from upbeat indie rockers like "Disco Smile" to the bluesy riffs and funky rhythm of "Dark and Stormy" to the bombastic horn breakdowns on "Better Your Friends" to the melancholy folk vibes of penultimate track "The Hills."
The guitar work, paired with Walsh's at times angelic but always emotive vocals, interweave themselves throughout each song, bringing the more experimental elements together cohesively.
You can catch the new sound live at the band's upcoming tour dates, which are listed below. Scroll past the upcoming shows to listen to The Shore before it officially arrives on February 17 via Sunset Hill Music.
You can pre-order the album here.
Tour dates:
02/17 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
02/22 Guelph, ON - Cornerstone
02/23 London, ON - APK
02/24 Brantford, ON - Brantford Arts Centre
02/25 Hamilton, ON - The Casbah
02/27 Toronto, ON - Dakota Tavern
02/28 Kitchener, ON - The Boathouse
