Brasstronaut
Following on from their critically acclaimed 2010 debut Mt Chimera - a SOCAN Echo Prize for Canadian song of the year, a Polaris Prize long-listing and chart-topping singles on The Hype Machine - Brasstronaut are set to release their sophomore album Mean Sun out on UK indie label Tin Angel Records on 21st October.
The forthcoming record was recorded with Juno Award winning producer Colin Stewart who is known for his work with New Pornographers, Black Mountain, Dan Mangan and Cave Singers.
Following on from their debut Mt. Chimera, that experimented in jazz, pop and genres as distant as klezmer and electronica. Mean Sun has led to a more pop orientated style that is now decidedly their own terrain.
‘Mean Sun’ harnesses the same virtuosity and can be heard in the shimmering and slowly unraveling opener ‘Bounce’ to the languid, dissolving ‘Mixtape’. 'The Grove' is full of collapsing loops forming an unsettled bed of tense pop similar to Peter, Bjorn and John.
Elsewhere, title track 'Mean Sun' is haunted by the unsettling synth one thought the exclusive domain of Portishead, while lead singer Edo Van Breemen’s vocals, withdrawn but uncannily intimate as those of Chad Van Gaalen, drift assertively into the chorus of an unexpected anthem.
Formed originally in 2004 by duo Edo Van Breeman on vocals and trumpeter Bryan Davies they eventually evolved into a band. Brasstronaut, although early in their years, have a tendency to experiment with orchestral rock and known for dabbling in electronica.
After a three month residency at the Banff Centre they emerged with their debut album and took to the road. They have toured North America twice with showcases at SXSW amd CMW. Festival appearances include POP Montreal in 2008 & 2009, Sled Island 2009, The Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2010, Hillside 2010 and Rifflandia 2012. Outside of the US and Canada they have performed at Iceland’s Airwaves Festival, In the City, The Great Escape, Incubate, Walk The Line, various Reeperbahn’s and have embarked on two EU tours.