For some reason, some of my favourite albums are the ones I usually find myself listening to alone. This past year I came across The Besnard Lakes for the first time. The band’s spring release, Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO, is now one of those special records. It’s beautifully ambient with tastes of surf rock, ’50s pop and classic rock. The band is based out of Montreal and lead by husband and wife Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas. Although it took a few years to appear on my radar, The Besnard Lakes has a solid place in the Canadian indie music scene, having two out of their four albums being nominated for the coveted Polaris Music Prize. If you’re into the likes of artists such as Sigur Ros, Imogen Heap, or Local Natives, then The Besnard Lakes is a Canadian gem you’ll be happy to hear.
The band’s music is haunting and exquisite with echoing vocals. The guitar riffs alone portray so much emotion. Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO might just be one of the most elegant albums I’ve ever heard, being experimental and flawlessly paced, delivering beautiful and atmospheric music. Although I’m late on finding out about this band, I’m stoked on diving into a discography that dates back to 2003. The group is just about to wrap up a month-long American tour with fellow Montreal band Elephant Stone. This band has Indian influence in their music with the sitar, tabla, and dilrub. This now gives me two reasons to catch the last show of the tour on November 29th at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. Tickets are $15 and are available through Rotate This, Soundscapes, and Ticket Fly.
