We Are Wolves Get Serious

08/24/07 5:00pm

by Alyssa Noel (CHARTattack)

MONTREAL — A few things have changed since We Are Wolves made their 2005 debut record.

The Montreal hype machine has dulled to a constant hum, indie music has reached its coming-of-age, and an ability to rattle off lupine-inspired band names no longer puts you in the upper echelons of indie knowledge.

It's into this slightly altered scene that the dance-punk band will deliver their sophomore record, Total Magique. According to singer/bassist Alexander Ortiz, time wearing away the novelty of "Wolf" bands is an especially good thing.

"At the beginning, [the name] could've been good or bad for us, but now it's a new start. [The fans are] just going to say, 'Oh, OK.' They've seen it before."

The new record marks a few notable changes for the band as well. It's their first full-length on Dare To Care Records, their new label. And, in a way, it symbolizes their decision to get serious about music.

Despite the attention that We Are Wolves garnered for Non Stop Je Te Plie En Deux, Ortiz says they considered their first record more of a demo than an official release.

"This is our first album. The last one was a way to do a little album for friends to hear."

The record is characterized by the same furious beat-driven frenzy as Non Stop, but this time they approached recording more critically.

"It's in the same direction and the same vein, but I assume it's more mature but still has that raw energy, that juvenile punk energy, but a little bit more electronic," explains Ortiz. "I think it's a bit more orchestrated.

"We had more time to do it and were more experienced. Now we know a bit more about how to work in studio. We worked hard on each song. We took our time."

The band have been almost entirely absent from stages and festivals this summer as they put the finishing touches on the record. Ortiz was surprised to discover that fans, and not just their friends, missed their high-energy shows.

"It's weird because I've been DJing a lot and I've had people come to see me and they're anxious for the new stuff," he says.

Part of the buzz can be attributed to the growing interest in electro-flavoured rock.

"I think people realize you can say something intelligent, have fun and dance to it," says Ortiz.

Total Magique hits store shelves on Sept. 4. We Are Wolves expect to have two new videos ready for the fall.

Here are We Are Wolves' tour dates:

Sept. 7 Montreal, QC @ Musee D'art Contemporain De Montreal
Sept. 20 Montreal, QC @ Le National
Sept. 23 Sherbrooke, QC @ Le Telephone Rouge
Sept. 28 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
Oct. 6 Quebec City, QC @ Le Cercle (Festival Antenne-A)