Mark Berube

'Russian Dolls' (album stream)

BY Matthew RitchiePublished Oct 28, 2013

It's only been two years since Montreal-based tunesmith Mark Berube issued his last LP, June in Siberia, with his backing band the Patriotic Few. But not content to simply rest on his laurels, the eclectic singer-songwriter has stacked up another set of his songs for his fifth full-length, Russian Dolls, which is seeing its release on November 5 through Bonsound. But until then, treat yourself to an early listen by streaming the album in its entirety on Exclaim.ca.

Expanding upon his poetic storytelling and folk-based music, early inspirations of South African pop and psychedelic rock fit perfectly together on Berube's newest release to form an audio collage that fully encompasses the songwriter's strengths.

Recorded at Breakglass Studios in Montreal and produced by Jace Lasek (the Besnard Lakes, Wolf Parade), Berube explores the kitchen-sink dramas of early-'60s Britpop ("Carnival"), Moog-heavy synth indulgences ("The Good, the Bad, and the Photograph") and rhythmically nuanced piano forays (the album's title track), which are all the more flushed out by cellist and co-conspirator Kristina Koropecki over the album's ornate 11 tracks.

Hear for yourself by listening to the album in the player below. Don't forget to catch Berube this fall as he tours around the country.

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