The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse - Album Review

The Besnard Lakes are Montrealers by way of Western Canada. Original members Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas are joined by some new faces for their second album. It's a deep, reverberating, emotional ride.

On hearing the beginning of the first song, Disaster, I was incredibly worried about what was to come. It starts with slow, plucked strings and Jace Lasek with his falsetto voice singing melodically over it. At first it grated and I felt it was limp. This was all to change.

Slow horns, violins, brass and woodwind instruments add to the slow, but powerful sound and finally (2 minutes into the song) the drums and guitars kick in. This builds up further and further and you feel like you are listening to a whole orchestra echoing perfectly in a cathedral with the ongoing chorus "You've got disaster on your mind"

This video is for the song called "For Spy Turned Musician" (not on this album - but nice).
"For Spy Turned Musician" Video


In Agent 13 the piano, organ and the synthesizer get a good work out. As with the opening track, it starts slowly and builds up and up and the wait is worth it. Again there is very little percussion until the final third of the song.

There are 3 bass players, 3 guitarists, 3 drummers and The Firth String Liberation Singers Choir in Devestation so you can imagine the powerful noise throughout.

On the album cover (below), there is A Dark Horse emerging on a dark night from a fire. This is now embedded in my mind as it's simply the perfect image for their music. Bizarrely, I just can't imagine seeing them in daylight.

Because Tonight is a Jekyll and Hyde song for me. The first half is slow and lacking bite. Fortunately my patience is rewarded when it unfolds and changes into something with some verve, kick and energy.

The final three songs are more upbeat and instantly likable tunes with more easily recognisable beats and the "usual" instruments.

The Album ends with Cedric's War which has a great marching beat to it and a nice end to a very well-crafted, emotional, creative and different album.

Track Listing:
1. Disaster
2. For Agent 13
3. And You Lied To Me
4. Devastation
5. Because Tonight
6. Rides The Rain
7. On Beford And Grant
8. Cedric's War


The Besnard Lakes website: www.thebesnardlakes.com

Myspace Page: myspace.com/thebesnardlakes