Not long ago, The Ember Glows released the single ‘Silent Love’ and now we understand that this cool slice of post-punk excellence had foreshadowed the EP, titled‘Where Spirits Play’ and recorded at Closet Studios in Montreal, which they are soon to release. Today we have the pleasure of previewing ‘The Mirror’ from this 4-track collection. Here in this 4 1/2 minute offering, we clearly feel the ghost of ‘Love’-era The Cult and, at the same time, Jim Morrison himself (close your eyes and imagine him fronting The Damned, for instance, rather than The Doors). The likeness and similarity in timbre is uncanny and very welcome.
Formed in early 2019 by members of Montreal-based indie artists Room Control, REPO, Scene Noir and Citylake, The Ember Glows is Richard Bunze (guitar), Kevin Hills (bass), Martin Saint (vocals and guitar) and Dan Stefik (drums).
“This song is about how most nations carry skeletons in their closets – even the so-called peaceful ones. Sooner or later, we must face the weight of history and the past hits us hard collectively. We don’t shy away from difficult subjects, but neither do we wish to preach or claim to know better than anybody else. Such sensitive topics have to be handled with delicate taste and utmost respect,” says frontman Martin Saint.
“The lyrics are only a personal reflection that came about some two years ago after some of my work in association with APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), but prior to the ghastly Canadian Residential School mass grave revelations. Musically, this kind of subject matter needed something driving, yet hypnotic enough, to really drive the point home. The song slowly builds up until we explode as a full band.”
Wearing their influences on their sleeves, you can hear elements of Simple Minds, The Cult, Echo and the Bunnymen, early U2, Nick Cave and The Mission.
With performances that make subtle use of dynamics and trace their roots to guitar-driven new wave, psych rock and 90’s British indie music, their recordings channel the feeling of being front and centre at one of their shows. The four-piece have crafted a sound that boasts simple hooks, a pulsating rhythm section, textural guitar interplay and baritone vocals.
Long-time friends since their teenage years, personal chemistry and musical synchronicity brought them together as The Ember Glows. With all four members also being part of other bands, what started as a side-project ultimately became everyone’s main music priority, fueled by their jointly-forged sound and corresponding adrenaline. Each member brings something different to the table – Rich with his knack for texture and big sound, Kevin’s rumbling groovy bass lines, Dan’s manic and melodic drumming, and Martin’s delicate lacing of baritone and jangly guitars.
The ‘Where Spirits Play’ EP will be released on September 23 and available from all fine digital stores, including Bandcamp, where it can already be pre-ordered at https://theemberglows.bandcamp.com/album/where-spirits-play, where their‘Passerby’ EP was also recently made available for the first time on cassette.
CREDITS
Recorded at Closet Studios by Daniel Karrasch and John Gurnsey
Record produced by Daniel Karrasch in Montreal
Richard Bunze – Lead Guitar
Kevin Hills – Bass
Martin Saint – Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Dan Stefik – Drums
All songs by The Ember Glows
Lyrics by Martin Saint
Music by The Ember Glows
Album photography, artwork & layout by Richard Bunze.
TRACK LIST
1. Tomorrow’s The Day
2. The Mirror
3. Silent Love
4. High Fever
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