If you tuned in to yesterday's show (or if you checked out the playlist/archive) you know that the Featured Album of the Week was the new Miracle Fortress, Was I The Wave?, which came out yesterday on Secret City Records.
I've been in love with Miracle Fortress (aka Montreal's Graham Van Pelt) since 2007's dreamy Five Roses, which was one of my favorite releases that year. To me it that album was starting to kick off chill wave before that was even a term - lush melodies and cresting waves of Beach Boys harmonies wrapped up in one totally gorgeous hypnotic package. It was such a beautiful record that even my musician friend was a fan - despite the fact that he had a thing for a girl who had a thing for Van Pelt, he told me "I love the music but I have bitterness in my heart."
Miracle Fortress disappeared off my radar, like most bands who don't come through town inevitably do for the most part, so I was delighted when I heard about Was I The Wave? and got my hands on a promo copy of the album the very same day. AND then I heard the delightful news that they're coming to Nashville, FINALLY, to play at Mercy Lounge on Tuesday, June 21 with JUNIOR BOYS, of all touring partners.
Listening to WITW, the pairing begins to make sense. This album has a backbone of beats - rhythmic ribs beneath the same seawater skin of Five Roses. It's instantly recognizable but an impressive step in a new direction - progressive in a way most acts fail to... progress. The kind of album that makes you nod and think "yeah, that's about right."
And a tune I couldn't spin on the air - "Miscaculations"
Was I The Wave? is out now on Secret City Records.
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