Following a string of releases both online and otherwise, Toronto instrumental trio BADBADNOTGOOD are finally set for their first commercial album III. Dropping on May 6 through Pirates Blend in Canada and Innovative Leisure in the U.S., the record is already available to stream here on Exclaim.ca, while the group also gave us some insight into the process behind their anticipated release.
Where the band's last two albums were laid down digitally wherever they could get the space, III was recorded direct-to-tape at Revolution Recording in Toronto. Overdubs and mixing were completed at the band's home studio in Little Italy, a space shared with III producer Frank Dukes.
"I guess since the second record, we've gotten more into vintage stuff and the way analog things sound, and more into creating music that way," explains bassist Chester Hansen in a recent Exclaim! interview.
Hansen waxes further about the benefits of being a Luddite. "Being able to finally do it on tape was really cool, because it's a different mindset. You really want to nail your performance before you start recording. You're less prone to be like, 'Oh, we'll fix it later on a computer,'" he explains.
Though each BADBADNOTGOOD release has included at least one non-cover, III is composed entirely of original material. With that said, there was a reason for the gap between the new album and 2012's BBNG2. Pianist Matt Tavares guesses the band had probably "300 iPhone recordings" of demos prior to the album's completion.
"We had to move from my dad's basement because my dad couldn't deal with noise complaints," drummer Alex Sowinski explains. "We got a new space. We linked up with Frank Dukes, and were like, 'Cool, let's get a spot together and work on music.' Between working on a new album, new material, shows, learning new things and travelling, we got this place last minute and had to hustle.
"We wrote a bunch of originals and Innovative [Leisure] offered us some money to put the record together. We haven't done anything in a real session with proper time where we can focus on drum sounds and proper bass tones and just go for something with the best impact. That's why it's all original and why it's been a long time since the last one."
Moving forward, the band members have an epic to-do list, but in bucket list terms, one enigmatic, prolific beatmaker stands alone as the musician they would most like to record with.
"The one person who really want to meet, and if we ever get the chance to do something with we'll cry, every night, is Madlib. Or just shoot the shit about music with him, because he'd be an amazing person to talk to," says Sowinski.
Now all we can think about is the potential greatness of a MADBADNOTGOOD LP.
For now, stream all of III over here and see the the band's upcoming European and Canadian tour itinerary below.
You can also pre-order the album in various formats over here.
Read our cover story on BADBADNOTGOOD here.
Tour dates:
05/06 London, UK – XOYO
05/07 Bristol, UK – The Exchange
05/09 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
05/10 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
05/12 Brussels, BE – Botanique @ Orangerie
05/13 Paris, FR – Point Ephemere
05/14 Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
05/16 Hamburg, DE – Prinzenbar
05/17 Frankfurt, DE – Brotfabrik
05/18 Haldern, DE – Haldern Bar
05/19 Berlin, DE – Gruner Salon
05/22 Galway, IRE – Roisin Dubh
05/23 Cork, IRE – Pavilion
05/24 Dublin, IRE – Sugar Club
06/06 Hamilton, ON – The Casbah
06/07-08 Toronto, ON – Arts & Crafts Field Trip
07/05 Montreal, QC – Montreal International Jazz Festival
07/11 Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest
07/12 Quebec City, QC – Festival d'été de Québec
07/13 Antigonish, NS – Evolve Festival
Where the band's last two albums were laid down digitally wherever they could get the space, III was recorded direct-to-tape at Revolution Recording in Toronto. Overdubs and mixing were completed at the band's home studio in Little Italy, a space shared with III producer Frank Dukes.
"I guess since the second record, we've gotten more into vintage stuff and the way analog things sound, and more into creating music that way," explains bassist Chester Hansen in a recent Exclaim! interview.
Hansen waxes further about the benefits of being a Luddite. "Being able to finally do it on tape was really cool, because it's a different mindset. You really want to nail your performance before you start recording. You're less prone to be like, 'Oh, we'll fix it later on a computer,'" he explains.
Though each BADBADNOTGOOD release has included at least one non-cover, III is composed entirely of original material. With that said, there was a reason for the gap between the new album and 2012's BBNG2. Pianist Matt Tavares guesses the band had probably "300 iPhone recordings" of demos prior to the album's completion.
"We had to move from my dad's basement because my dad couldn't deal with noise complaints," drummer Alex Sowinski explains. "We got a new space. We linked up with Frank Dukes, and were like, 'Cool, let's get a spot together and work on music.' Between working on a new album, new material, shows, learning new things and travelling, we got this place last minute and had to hustle.
"We wrote a bunch of originals and Innovative [Leisure] offered us some money to put the record together. We haven't done anything in a real session with proper time where we can focus on drum sounds and proper bass tones and just go for something with the best impact. That's why it's all original and why it's been a long time since the last one."
Moving forward, the band members have an epic to-do list, but in bucket list terms, one enigmatic, prolific beatmaker stands alone as the musician they would most like to record with.
"The one person who really want to meet, and if we ever get the chance to do something with we'll cry, every night, is Madlib. Or just shoot the shit about music with him, because he'd be an amazing person to talk to," says Sowinski.
Now all we can think about is the potential greatness of a MADBADNOTGOOD LP.
For now, stream all of III over here and see the the band's upcoming European and Canadian tour itinerary below.
You can also pre-order the album in various formats over here.
Read our cover story on BADBADNOTGOOD here.
Tour dates:
05/06 London, UK – XOYO
05/07 Bristol, UK – The Exchange
05/09 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
05/10 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
05/12 Brussels, BE – Botanique @ Orangerie
05/13 Paris, FR – Point Ephemere
05/14 Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
05/16 Hamburg, DE – Prinzenbar
05/17 Frankfurt, DE – Brotfabrik
05/18 Haldern, DE – Haldern Bar
05/19 Berlin, DE – Gruner Salon
05/22 Galway, IRE – Roisin Dubh
05/23 Cork, IRE – Pavilion
05/24 Dublin, IRE – Sugar Club
06/06 Hamilton, ON – The Casbah
06/07-08 Toronto, ON – Arts & Crafts Field Trip
07/05 Montreal, QC – Montreal International Jazz Festival
07/11 Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest
07/12 Quebec City, QC – Festival d'été de Québec
07/13 Antigonish, NS – Evolve Festival