Breakout 2007: The Besnard Lakes

07/06/09 1:35pm

by Martin Horn (CHARTattack)

Hometown: Montreal, QC

Sound: While The Besnard Lakes' first album, Volume I, was an experiment in texture and spy thriller/rock 'n' roll narrative, they've moved to more of a pop sound with new album, The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse. The pop-friendly sound comes across as something the Beach Boys might've done had they been living in a dark room with no windows.

Why?
After years of working for their friends and a multitude of Montreal musicians, Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas may finally get their day in the sun. Lasek, working at Breakglass Studios with his business partner and co-engineer, Dave Smith, have been involved in the production of albums by Sunset Rubdown, Wolf Parade and Bionic, as well as many other up-and-coming Montreal bands. Goreas plays drums for fellow psych-poppers The World Provider as well as providing various instrumental and vocal duties in The Besnard Lakes. Now that they've finished their second album and signed to Outside in Canada and indie powerhouse label Jagjaguwar in the States, it may be their turn to enjoy some well-deserved notoriety.

Lasek and Goreas tracked the album over the course of a busy year in between recording gigs at Breakglass. The time constraints imposed by a heavy workload of outside recording work meant that the recording and writing process was one of spontaneity and chance.

"Sometimes I make mistakes when I'm making the Besnard records, but I never go back," says Lasek. The result is an album that picks up where the first album left off, but features more prominent vocal harmonies that marks a new direction for the band. Their status in the Montreal scene is clear considering the album features contributions from members of Stars, A Silver Mount Zion and The Dears. Many of these guests appeared together on the song "Devastation," where Lasek and Goreas assembled a band to play the song live in the studio.

"Olga decided that the best way to record that song was live," says Lasek. "They rehearsed it for a few hours. I didn't even play on it, I just mixed it as they played."

The Besnard Lakes will tour Canada and the U.S. this spring in support of the new album. Fans across the continent can expect to have their eardrums and minds blown.

This feature is from the February 2007 issue of Chart Magazine. To purchase the issue, go to the Chart Shop.