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

The Little Ones: Sing Song - Album Review

This mini-album is released in February in the UK to coincide with their tour starting on 15 January where they are supporting The Boy Least Likely To, Tilly & the Wall and Magic Numbers.

I instantly enjoyed their uplifting and upbeat music. My first impression of this mini-album is a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah with a different singer, however that's not fair on them at all. Their use of simple chords, crescendos and a drummer who sometimes unconventionally, but very effectively adds to the excitement, blends well to create a sunshine filled indie pop album.

The first 2 tracks, Let Them Ring The Bells and Lover Who Uncover are both upbeat, catchy songs with the 'yeah's, 'la's, 'hey's and 'no's all conveniently placed for a good singalong.

The rising chords of Cha Cha Cha along with the brilliant line of "and the abacus says, 'keep on counting…'" makes this my favourite track - also it's great to dance to with my 2 year old daughter.



The song lengths are longer than the norm for this type of music, but they are of good enough quality not to be annoying.

The last 2 tracks are not quite as catchy, particularly in the final song, Heavy Hearts Brigade. There is a break from the higher pitched singing with a more "down to earth" track as the title suggests. This is the least pop-like tune and I get the feeling they didn't want to be pigeon-holed..

In the opening verse of Oh, MJ! is:
Fire your attention away from jaws to your feet where
We'll make 'em, make 'em move forward.

Ironically, this song is the least likely of the 6 to make your feet move forward, but it shows that it's not all simplistic, indie pop, sunshine stuff.

This mini-album clocks in at just under 25 minutes, which I think is a good length for this type of music. Not too long to get under your skin, and not too short to be forgettable. Definitely worth getting and giving a go.


The Little Ones website: www.wearethelittleones.com/
Free Downloads : Lovers Who Uncover, Cha Cha Cha, High On A Hill
Interesting remix of Lovers Who Uncover
Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/wearethelittleones