Back in 2010, seasoned session musician Nathan Lawr delved into Afrobeat-inspired funk with The Thing by his band Minotaurs. Now, following a subsequent remix EP, the collective have announced their next album. Entitled New Believers, it will drop on January 22 via Static Clang.
The album was produced by Paul Aucoin (John K. Samson, Laura Barrett) and mixed by Howie Beck (Feist, Jason Collett). It boasts a 12-piece lineup, who recorded live off the floor at House of Miracles in Preston, ON. Lawr played drums, while guest contributors included Sarah Harmer and Ohbijou's Casey Mecija.
According to a press release, this collection boasts and darker and edgier sound than its predecessor, and featured political-minded songs inspired by Quebec student protests and Toronto's G20 riots.
Lawr said in a statement, "I wouldn't say that our thing is 'protest' music as such, but it does stem from a desire to be engaged in and to affect what is happening politically in this country and the world. People always tell me, 'Wow, you're so political,' and I always respond with, 'Wow, you're not?!' The truth is that we are political beings whether we like it or not. Every human being since the beginning of time has been born into some sort of political entity complete with rights and obligations and that doesn't change when you decide to be uninvolved; it just means you've accepted that decisions will be made without your input. And I'm not comfortable with that."
The pensively funky "Open the Doors," featuring Sarah Harmer, is streaming below. Scroll past that to check out a minute-long album trailer.
New Believers:
1. New Believers
2. Make Some Noise
3. Split the Atom
4. Flashbulb
5. Open the Doors (ft. Sarah Harmer)
6. Strange Fire (ft. Casey Mecija)
7. Sharper Knife
8. Windchimes in the Evening
The album was produced by Paul Aucoin (John K. Samson, Laura Barrett) and mixed by Howie Beck (Feist, Jason Collett). It boasts a 12-piece lineup, who recorded live off the floor at House of Miracles in Preston, ON. Lawr played drums, while guest contributors included Sarah Harmer and Ohbijou's Casey Mecija.
According to a press release, this collection boasts and darker and edgier sound than its predecessor, and featured political-minded songs inspired by Quebec student protests and Toronto's G20 riots.
Lawr said in a statement, "I wouldn't say that our thing is 'protest' music as such, but it does stem from a desire to be engaged in and to affect what is happening politically in this country and the world. People always tell me, 'Wow, you're so political,' and I always respond with, 'Wow, you're not?!' The truth is that we are political beings whether we like it or not. Every human being since the beginning of time has been born into some sort of political entity complete with rights and obligations and that doesn't change when you decide to be uninvolved; it just means you've accepted that decisions will be made without your input. And I'm not comfortable with that."
The pensively funky "Open the Doors," featuring Sarah Harmer, is streaming below. Scroll past that to check out a minute-long album trailer.
New Believers:
1. New Believers
2. Make Some Noise
3. Split the Atom
4. Flashbulb
5. Open the Doors (ft. Sarah Harmer)
6. Strange Fire (ft. Casey Mecija)
7. Sharper Knife
8. Windchimes in the Evening
