The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

And while I'm still being totally blown away by each new audition of "Neon Bible", this is also a perfect moment to look into what Canada's indie scene has been offering lately, besides of course Arcade Fire. After discovering bands like Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, Islands or Bell Orchestre here's another one to add to the list: The Besnard Lakes. "...Are The Dark Horse", like most of its native counterparts records, is a lesson on how to harmonize chaos and create good solid rock music out of apparently disparate instruments and intricate sounds (including the usual strings, horns, psychedelic guitars, reverb and a few suprisingly sunny melodies). Having a strong attention to small details, it creates, at the same time, an epic and spacious atmosphere that is also dark enough to avoid big mass celebrations. A record that never stops to contradict itself: Big yet intimate? Positive melodies inserted in gloomy instrumentations? With an unfinished touch that celebrates imperfection (something which is starting to become really common in most of nowadays best-loved indie records), this is, well, a perfect companion for your own private celebrations, or any other good occasion to connect these songs dots. (7/10)