Esmerine

Last updated
Esmerine
Esmerine stage photo.jpg
Background information
Origin Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Years active2003 (2003)–present
Labels Constellation, Madrona, Resonant
MembersBruce Cawdron, Beckie Foon, Brian Sanderson
Past membersSarah Pagé, Andrew Barr
Website esmerine.com

Esmerine are a Canadian modern chamber music group that incorporates genres such as post rock, drone music, post punk, and Turkish folk. Founded in Montreal in 2000 by Bruce Cawdron (drums) and Beckie Foon (cello), the band has released six albums.

Contents

History

2000-02: Founding

The chamber rock group Esmerine was formed in 2000, and was initially a duo consisting of percussionist Bruce Cawdron and cellist Beckie Foon. The two had recently met in Montreal while both were recording the debut album of Canadian post-rock band Set Fire To Flames. [1] Cawdron and Foon had independently contributed to other Montreal-based groups as well, notably Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Saltland, Fifths of Seven and Mile-End Ladies' String Auxiliary. However, instead of using the guitar-focused sound of their other projects, the duo initially focused on percussion and cello, drawing on minimalist classical music and chamber music. The band initially performed their original music in gigs around Montreal. [1]

2003-10: Early releases

Esmerine recorded and released their debut album If Only a Sweet Surrender to the Nights to Come Be True in May 2003. It came out on the UK label Resonant Records, as well as the band's newly formed Madrona Records imprint. [2] The album met with a largely positive reception. Allmusic gave it 4/5 stars, stating, "A French female name meaning quiet and sensitive, Esmerine is a fitting moniker for the overall sound," and calling it "a sublime chamber rock album that brings Rachel's or Wim Mertens to mind." While Allmusic described the later tracks as having rock influences, "The three opening tracks are serene, melancholic, and well-composed, avoiding the quiet-loud-quiet or builds-to-crescendo device." [3]

In 2004 the duo recorded their second album at the Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal. They released Aurora in May 2005 on Madrona Records, with a vinyl version released by Ninja Tune. [2] In the mid-2000s Foon dedicated more time to Thee Silver Mt. Zion, while Cawdron continued to work as an acupuncturist. At the same time they continued to occasionally perform in Montreal, often bringing in guest artists or collaborating with other groups. [1]

2011: La Lechuza

Foon and Cawdron began writing new music together in earnest in 2010. [1] For their third album, La Lechuza, two new members joined the group: Sarah Pagé, a harp player, and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Barr (both of The Barr Brothers and the Lhasa de Sela band). [1] Album producer Patrick Watson also contributed vocals on two songs, with other guests including violinist Sarah Neufeld (Arcade Fire) and saxophonist Colin Stetson. Mark Lawson of Arcade Fire mixed most of the tracks. [1]

2012-14: Dalmak

Recording process

After Barr and Page became occupied with their other projects, Esmerine added two new members to their touring lineup: percussionist Jamie Thompson and multi-instrumentalist Brian Sanderson.

After a number of live performances the quartet began writing new material in early 2012. [1] After performing in Istanbul, the band was invited to return for an artist residency later that year. [4] After turning a rented loft into a makeshift recording studio, [5] the band recorded for two days in Istanbul. [6] According to the band, "We immersed ourselves in the culture of the city of Istanbul and the people whom we met there." [7] The band's "song skeletons" were added to by Turkish musicians, who contributed instruments such as the bendir, darbuka, erbane, mey, barama, saz and electric guitar. [8] Among the guest musicians were Hakan Vreskala, Baran Aşık, Ali Kazim Akdağ and James Hakan Dedeoğlu. [9]

The album, Dalmak, was completed in the winter of 2012 and 2013, at Breakglass Studios in Montreal with engineer Jace Lasek. [1] The word 'dalmak' means immerse in Turkish. [7] It can also be interpreted as "to dive into," "to contemplate," and "to be absorbed in." [4]

Reception

Dalmak was released on Constellation Records in 2013. It was awarded Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2014. [10] Tiny Mix Tapes gave Dalmak a score of 3/5. The review described the album as starting off with the band's normal style, before Turkish influences start to dominate in tracks such as "Lost River Blues II." [4] The Line of Best Fit gave it 7.5/10 stars, saying the members "experiment with languid strains of clinical harmony, exploring avant-garde themes in neo-classical music, electronica and post-rock." The review further stated, "they ultimately craft gorgeous, sparkling experimental noises that blur the line between post-rock, minimalist electronica and Turkish folk." [11]

2015: Lost Voices

Lost Voices was released on Constellation Records in 2015, earning their second Juno Awards nomination as Instrumental Album of the Year in 2016. The band composed the record at Le Chateau Monthelon in Montreal, France.[ citation needed ]

2017: Mechanics of Dominion

Mechanics of Dominion is the sixth studio album by Canadian band Esmerine, released on October 20, 2017, through Constellation Records.

2022: Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More

Esmerine released their album "Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More" on May 6, 2022. [12] The record was awarded Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023 [10]

Style, live performances

Esmerine announced a series of tour dates for 2023, including around Europe and performances and at the Live at Lost River Festival in Wentworth-Nord, QC (August 24-27) put on by Patrick Watson and Rebecca Foon.

Decoder Magazine has described Esmerine as "new-classical, punk-drone-post rock." [8] As a "chamber rock" ensemble, Esmerine's music consists mainly of percussion, cello, and marimba, lacking the guitars prominent in the members' other side projects. Esmerine's style shares many characteristics with minimalist classical music and chamber music. [2]

Members

Current
Past

Awards

YearAwardNominated workCategoryResult
2014 Juno Awards Dalmak Instrumental Album of the Year Won
2016 Juno Awards Lost VoicesInstrumental Album of the YearNominated
2016Juno AwardsLost Voices Recording Package of the Year Won
2018 Juno Awards Mechanics of DominionRecording Package of the YearNominated
2023 Juno Awards Everything Was Forever Until It Was No MoreInstrumental Album of the YearWon
2023Juno AwardsEverything Was Forever Until It Was No MoreRecording Package of the YearWon

Discography

Studio albums

Studio albums by Esmerine
YearAlbum titleRelease details
2003 If Only a Sweet
Surrender to the Nights
to Come Be True
  • Released: May 20, 2003
  • Label: Madrona/Resonant
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2005 Aurora
  • Released: May 31, 2005
  • Label: Madrona/Ninja Tune
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2011 La Lechuza
  • Released: December 20, 2011
  • Label: Constellation
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2013 Dalmak
  • Released: September 3, 2013
  • Label: Constellation
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2015 Lost Voices
  • Released: October 16, 2015
  • Label: Constellation
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2017 Mechanics of Dominion
  • Released: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Constellation
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
2022Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More
  • Released: May 6, 2022
  • Label: Constellation
  • Format: CD, LP, digital

Singles

Incomplete list of songs by Esmerine
YearTitleAlbumRelease notes
2012"Front End Loader"2 track singleConstellation Records (May 2012)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Info". Esmerine.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  2. 1 2 3 Jeffries, David. "Esmerine: Bio and Discography". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  3. ↑ Jeffries, David (May 20, 2003). "If Only a Sweet Surrender to the Nights to Come Be True Review". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  4. 1 2 3 Vogt, Adam (2013). "Dalmak review". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Esmerine". Echotic Music. December 3, 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  6. ↑ Dedeoglu, J. Hakan (2014). "The Constellation Interviews no. 1. Esmerine". Bantmag. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  7. 1 2 "Esmerine Interview". Music and Riots Magazine. April 3, 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  8. 1 2 Pearson, Adam (February 6, 2014). "Drones and Doumbek in December: An Interview with Esmerine". Decoder Magazine. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  9. ↑ Cowart, Geoff (December 9, 2013). "Q&A: Esmerine". Music OMH . Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  10. 1 2 "Esmerine Juno awards nominations". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  11. ↑ Day, Laurence (August 27, 2013). "Esmerine - Dalmak". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  12. ↑ "Esmerine - Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More". Echoes And Dust. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
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