The Dears Are A Gang Of Losers

Montreal's dark orchestral indie pop ensemble, The Dears, have torn away some layers for their new album that's due out at the end of August.

The 12-song, 48-minute Gang Of Losers was recorded at the band's Parc X Manor studio in Montreal over the winter and mixed at Greenpoint in Brooklyn in March. Although frontman Murray Lightburn is rarely at a loss for dramatic or creative descriptions, he takes a bare-bones approach when trying to elaborate on the sextet's new effort.

"As cliche as this may sound, it's by far the 'best work we've ever done,'" he wrote in an e-mail bulletin.

"But seriously, it doesn't sound like anything else and it's pretty relentless. As (I think) we've mentioned before, it is somewhat of a stripped down, raw affair. There is french horn in 2 songs and saxophone in another. Though there is some mellotron-ny stuff, there are no real violins, violas or cellos. I guess that means that we're no longer 'orchestral'."

The band acquired some new gear and have been trying out some of their new material during rehearsals.

"Though the first couple of times were pretty brutal, we are finally starting to sound like a band again," Lightburn says.

The Dears plan on showing off their new sound, songs and equipment at the Coachella Valley Music Festival this weekend, and will continue on the festival circuit in Canada and Europe this summer. A "proper" Canadian tour is planned for September. Fans should expect a single (and maybe even a video) in June, but can hear "Fear Made The World Go Round" on the band's MySpace page from now until Monday.

Here are The Dears' upcoming Canadian shows:

May 22 Ottawa, ON @ Tulip Festival
June 29 Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
July 1 Toronto, ON @ Harbourfront

And now, the track list for Gang Of Losers:

"Sinthtro"
"Ticket To Immortality"
"Death Or Life We Want You"
"Hate Then Love"
"There Goes My Outfit"
"Bandwagoneers"
"Fear Made The World Go 'Round"
"You And I Are A Gang Of Losers"
"Whites Only Party"
"Ballad Of Humankindness"
"I Fell Deep"
"Find Our Way To Freedom"