Since catching Montreal indie dream-popsters supporting Final Fantasy in December, my interest in the debut album Five Roses has grown and grown until it hit my playlist apogee this week.
It’s a thrilling no-filler record made entirely by Graham Van Pelt and fleshed out live by three additional members. It comes across as an indie version of a Nathan Fake record in terms of atmosphere: lush guitar soundscapes and whirling synth textures with Van Pelt’s voice gliding atop the music. Five Roses was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize last year.
MP3
Miracle Fortress – Have you seen in your dreams?
This album is brilliant. You were right about giving it a second listen. They were great live too.
stumbled across this in Rough Trade East, London. Took a few listens to get into, but it’s such a great album. perfect for those quiet moments with a good pair of headphones
yep, flippin’ brilliant album. i’d never heard of them before i caught them supporting final fantasy, and they blew me away, then i couldn’t stop listening to five roses for weeks after… hope they do a headline show here
Funny you mention that album, hadn’t listened to it for ages but it came up on random on the iPod the other day and I’ve been all over it like a rash since then. Reminds me a bit of the sporadically brilliant Clue To Kalo, tis lovely.
wow man. im liking this a lot
Theres a lot here thats kinda like Maps
C
Shite! No idea they were the support for FF, absolutely gutted I missed it now. Love the album.
Presume you’ve also heard their cover of Digital Love as well then?
It’s been something that I’ve been meaning to return to for some time now. If only I could remember which pile of CD’s I left it in.
This band definitely kicks booty. They do remind me of Os Mutantes. Great find.
Agreed, one of the most addictive albums of last year. Rough Trade are releasing a very limited (just 200 copies) 7″ of Maybe Lately at the end of the month too.
It’s a lovely cheerful record alright. Nice Beach Boys vibe to it.
Great tunes! Only one that I find more addictive than these at the moment is Va Va Va by Findo Gask.
My addiction to 5 Roses dominated the latter part of 2007. I saw them twice – supporting Black (yawn) Mountain and then headlining a week later. The shows were short but sweet and were a whole different take on the recorded version of their stuff. I recently got tickets to see Patrick Watson and wouldntyaknow, MF are supporting them too. Now am I sad enough to go and see them twice a week because they’re headlining at Luminaire too?
The Luyas album is worth seeking out – their lead singer is the girl who shows up for MF when they play out. Imagine Joanna Newsom fronting an indie band that happens to include a french horn…
Savage little album, glad I picked it up. They were pretty incredible supporting FF, although with the (brilliant) band it’s lot more frantic. Whopper.