4.5 stars... No longer the "Dark Horse"
Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 03/10/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Canadian band Besnard Lakes, fronted by the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas, has released 2 previous albums, the second (2007) release of which was "The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse", a majestic album that was in my Top 5 of the 'Best of the Year'. Now finally comes the highly anticipated third studio album.
"Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night" (10 tracks; 46 min.) starts off with the best track of the album, "Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent", a 9 min. epic track that epitomizes what this band is all about, soaring music, beautiful harmonizing vocals, it has it all. "Chicago Train" is a quieter, haunting song. "Albatross" (1st radio single) features Olga Goreas on lead vocals, but is a curious choice for a lead single in my opinion. "Glass Printer" is classic Besnard Lakes showgazing, just great. The second half of the album starts off with the mammoth 7 min. "Land of the Living Skies", with lush sounds abounding (with plenty of reverb). "And This Is What We Call Progress" is about as straight-forward rock as you'll find on this album, but it works great. "Light Up the Night" is the other must-hear track on here, a 7+ min. of intricate and delicate music, as good as the band has done ever.
In all, this is quite the album. My expectations were high, due to my love for the "Dark Horse" album, and they were met, and then some. Easily a contender for "Album of the Year" for me at this point. I had the good fortune of catching the Besnard Lakes in concert here in Cincinnati (at Bogart's) on their tour in support of the "Dark Horse" album, and what a show it was, just epic, fabulous. With this album, this band is no longer a "Dark Horse", that much is clear. This band is going places. If you wonder where you can hear them, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only that is the best indie-music station in the country. Meanwhile, "Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Fire" is highly, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
Epic, intense, soaring rock. Grab the headphones!
Harriet L. Schwartz | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 03/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Building on the sound captured on their previous album "The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse", the Canadian band has again delivered a masterpiece!
These days it's quite trendy for indie bands to feature Brian Wilson influenced vocals, though most bands take those vocals in a poppy direction. Besnard Lakes feature some of the Brian Wilson influence but situate those vocals definitively in a rock context. Their music has the space of Pink Floyd, space/psych rock instrumentation, accentuated with heavy rock drumming, and layered male and female vocals.
Get this album, and then put on your headphones and enjoy."