Besnard Lakes' latest songs are epic

By Lyle Rawdon, Staff Writer

Published Feb. 27, 2007

The Besnard Lakes have been in the indie-music scene for years, but The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, the band's latest release, will give the band more respect than any of its past endeavors. Having played shows with the Unicorns and the newly formed Islands, the band has been working on its craft for a while. But now, the Besnard Lakes have matured and created a memorable and extraordinary album.

The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse consists of only eight songs, but each is its own epic. The Besnard Lakes puts its name right beside Grizzly Bear with this album full of majestic string work and haunting vocals. "Disaster," the opening song, works great with the scratching of strings and lyrics such as "You've got disaster on your mind."

The Besnard Lakes vocals are oddly comforting and attach easily to the listener. "And You Lied to Me" is one of the album's best songs. Its constant buildup and dying down create a lot of depth. This timing lends itself to the lyrics "You aren't even who you said you are." The song seems emotionally heartfelt and honestly sad. About four minutes into "And You Lied to Me," the song is rolling, and it has its own life. The band, which seems to have many influences, goes with its Pink Floyd side and finishes up the song with great spiraling guitar work. If any songs on The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse can show the band's talent, it is definitely this one.

The Besnard Lakes are not afraid of wasting time here and take all they needs to build up their songs. "Because Tonight" doesn't start until about a minute and half in, but the mood that is created beforehand is completely worth it. Tense strings play in the background with very composed vocals. This continues into a string solo that is spine-tingling and magnificent. "Because Tonight" works on so many levels, and all of them are well done. The focus is not only on the music, but also on the overall tone of the vocals, which are warm and inviting.

"Rides the Rails" might sound the most like a song ripped off from Grizzly Bear, but Besnard Lakes pulls it off again. Many of the songs on Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse build up to something, and the outcome is always rewarding. This is true of "Rides the Rails," in which the ending is the most complete and shortest part of the song. Although it might sound repetitive, it only creates memorable moments that grow on the listener.

The Besnard Lakes might not be well known at the moment, but that might not be true much longer. The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse is undoubtedly one of the best albums of early 2007. There is a certain quality carried by bands such as The Besnard Lakes and Grizzly Bear, and their time is now. Expect to hear more about this band and definitely consider listening to this incredible album.