Bell Orchestre — As Seen Through Windows

Believe it or not, there was once a time when an instrumental pop song or soundtrack could rival Beatles records for chart supremacy. While that time has long passed, it's refreshing to see a new generation of bands turning to wordless soundscapes as a means to escape the monotony of pop song structures.

As Seen Through Windows is the second such album from Montreal's Bell Orchestre, a band probably best known for harbouring Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry and Sarah Neufeld. But the six-piece by no means come across as some half-hearted vehicle for the pair's musical whims.

As Seen Through Windows is a mostly organic affair filled with clambering drums, strings and horns played with both careful restraint and intense abandon. Bell Orchestre are an entity unto themselves and create instrumental tracks that beg to be front and centre for your aural pleasure instead of relegated to background music.

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