-=- SHGZ -=- * Shoegaze * Indie * Post-Rock * Grunge * Dream Pop * Psych-Rock * Ethereal * ARTIST..: Kestrels ALBUM...: Kestrels GENRE...: Indie STYLE...: Shoegaze, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Slacker Rock, Indie Pop YEAR....: 2016 LABEL...: Sonic Unyon COUNTRY.: Canada PLACE...: Halifax, Nova Scotia ENCODER.: LAME 3.100 -V0 BITRATE.: 271 kbps avg QUALITY.: 44.1kHz / Joint Stereo SOURCE..: CD TRACKS..: 10 SIZE....: 68.24 MB URL..: http://kestrels.bandcamp.com - TRACKLIST 1 No Alternative 3:17 2 Descent Of Their Last End 2:55 3 Are You Alone? 4:21 4 Lying Down 4:06 5 Suspect 3:08 6 Wide Eyes 2:04 7 Neko 4:35 8 Waiting 1:57 9 Ace 4:19 10 Temples 4:18 Total Playtime: 35:00 The defining third record from Halifax noise pop power trio Kestrels sees the band combining a frenzied union of striking melody and sonic bliss. Recording the rhythm tracks in downtown Toronto's Dream House Studio by Alex Bonenfant (METZ, Crystal Castles), with vocal sessions and guitar tracking taking place in vocalist/guitarist Chad Peck's gear sanctuary/home studio in rural Nova Scotia, the band tapped lauded producer Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate) to mix the record in his LA based Seagrass Studio in the spring of 2015. Ringo Deathstarr's Elliott Frazier and Alex Gehring also make cameo guitar and vocal appearances. The end result is by far their most accomplished recording to date. Drummer Paul Brown provides rhythm dynamics that can turn from tightly wound to borderline unhinged on a dime, Devin Peck covers unprecedented sonic ground with his bass, and Peck provides soft focus vocals backed by alternately tuned Fender Jazzmasters pushed through all manner of obscure Japanese fuzz pedals and coveted '80s rackmount processors. The sum total is a nod to the past, a response to the present, and a warm invitation into tomorrow. "Whereas many nu-gazers sound like they want to pretend that it's still 1991, Kestrels don't try to rewrite history. Their songs sound like shoegaze should in 2016: huge, anthemic choruses and sticky pop melodies surfing tidal waves of pedal-driven noise and crashing rhythms." - Noisey "Now a mainstay in Halifax, Kestrels have developed quite a following with their instantly recognizable brand of intelligently crafted, hazily psychedelic melodies and sweeping drones." - Beatrroute "Generous brush stroke chords of glorious, melodic dissonance. Kestrels take on the code of the solar spheres, invoking the valor and wonder of space's orbiting environments that exist and spin according to each's path and planetary position." - Impose * Canadian indie rock band Kestrels decided to make their third album self-titled because it signified them starting over in many ways. After going through several personnel changes since forming in 2008, this is their first full-length with a solidified trio lineup of guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Chad Peck, bassist Devin Peck, and drummer Paul Brown. The album also arrives after the group's van was stolen in 2013, including thousands of dollars' worth of instruments and equipment. This forced them to rebuild their arsenal of guitars, amplifiers, and pedals, and approach making music from a fresh perspective. As such, their brand of heavy, catchy guitar pop sounds bigger and more expansive than before. Kestrels have always classified themselves as shoegaze, and while they certainly incorporate a copious amount of hazy guitar effects, they've always placed more emphasis on anthemic pop hooks, with primary influences including Ash, Sloan, and Dinosaur Jr. Their songs are driving power pop rather than midtempo psych-rock burnouts, as many shoegaze bands tend to produce. Their songs are driven by melodic guitars and pounding drums, but there's also a magnificent wash of guitars backing them up. Some of the songs seem a bit sadder and slightly more dazed, particularly the vocals, but even comparatively slower numbers like "Are You Alone?" and "Neko" still sound busy and detailed. "Wide Eyes" and "Waiting" both seem like sure picks for singles, and closing track "Temples" could be an unearthed Sugar tune. Compared to Kestrels' previous efforts, this one's unmistakably more focused, with much tighter songs and a better handle on creating unique guitar sounds. * On their third album, Halifax noise-pop trio Kestrels solidify their reputation as worthy contenders in the new wave of shoegaze. Their dreamy take on the genre benefits highly from better production (thanks to some seasoned personnel) and sturdier performances than on their previous full-length album, A Ghost History. While the band shadow '90s shoegaze stalwarts from across the Atlantic, like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Swervedriver - whose recent returns to the fray happened to coincide with the genre's revival in the past few years - they also bear a little resemblance to fellow Canadian bands in the synth-y, dreamy indie-rock realm like Metric and Stars (see "Temples," for example). The buzzing guitars can give off a strong Smashing Pumpkins vibe; unsurprising, given the record was mixed by Brad Wood, whose credits include the Pumpkins and Sunny Day Real Estate. Maybe more than anyone, fans of newer shoegazing acts like Pity Sex and Nothing will find plenty to like about Kestrels. The album can all start to blend together if you're not paying close attention, but if that's a turn-off, it may be that this type of thing just isn't for you. The serene and sedative "Lying Down" and the vast, upbeat "Ace" are the main standouts here; also worth a nod are the swirling "Wide Eyes," the warbling "Descent of Their Last End" and the heavy, thundering "Neko." Guitarist-singer Chad Peck is accompanied tremendously throughout the album by Ringo Deathstarr's Alex Gehring, whose voice complements the band's sound so well it may be worth thinking about whether to make a permanent addition to the lineup. (Sonic Unyon) * Halifax noise-pop power trio Kestrels return with their new self-titled LP to be released worldwide September 30, 2016 via Hamilton, Ontario's fabled Sonic Unyon label. Regrouping after the band lost key boutique, modded, and vintage equipment from a van and gear theft, they've created a record that's right in our musical sweet spot - combining fuzzy, noisy guitars with catchy melodies. It fits nicely into Sonic Unyon's past and present catalog. The album was two years in the making, they recorded the rhythm tracks in downtown Toronto's Dream House Studio by Alex Bonenfant (METZ, Crystal Castles), with vocal sessions and guitar tracking taking place in vocalist/guitarist Chad Peck's gear sanctuary/home studio in rural Nova Scotia. The band tapped lauded producer Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate) to mix the record in his LA based Seagrass Studio in the spring of 2015. Ringo Deathstarr's Elliott Frazier and Alex Gehring also make cameo guitar and vocal appearances, solidifying a friendship that began with a Canadian tour in 2012. The end result is by far their most accomplished recording to date. Drummer Paul Brown provides rhythm dynamics that can turn from tightly wound to borderline unhinged on a dime, Devin Peck covers unprecedented sonic ground with his bass, and Peck provides soft focus vocals backed by alternately tuned Fender Jazzmasters pushed through all manner of obscure Japanese fuzz pedals and coveted 80s rackmount processors. This is a strong record - it kicks off with No Alternative's punchy drums and relentless guitar textures - take a listen below. Throughout the album, they never let up with songs like Are Ñou Alone? and Wide Eyes. The album gives you a breather with the slower paced Neko, but it still chugs along with a rhythm that makes you want to tap your toe coupled with beautiful layered vocals. The 1:58 long Waiting kicks back into full speed mode with some catchy fuzzed-out guitars and walls of noise - very nice indeed. You should check out 'Kestrels' especially if you're a fan of My Bloody Valentine, Sianspheric, or early Treble Charger. * Bio: Canadian band Kestrels play a brand of guitar rock that mixes strains of heavy shoegaze, soaring dream rock, and clean-cut power pop. Releasing records over a decade's time, the band built a solid CV of bright pop songs, grungy guitar solos, and the kind of music that any fan of Dinosaur Jr. or Ash could stand behind, especially 2020's Dream or Don't Dream. The band formed in 2008 and initially consisted of guitarist/vocalist Chad Peck and bassist/drummer Adam Hartling (both of the Medium Mood) along with drummer/bassist/vocalist Marcus Fiddes. This lineup recorded the group's debut 7" single, "Seaside," which was released by Peck's label Noyes Records. In 2009, Kestrels contributed a cover of "I Am the Cancer" to Sloan tribute album Take It In, and the band released their debut full-length, Primary Colours. The 7" EP The Solipsist appeared at the end of 2010, at which point Peck was accompanied by bassist Kirstan Moore and drummer Paul Brown. In 2011, Peck began releasing material with his new project, We Need Secrets. Kestrels still remained active, and with the addition of bassist Devin Peck, second album A Ghost History appeared in 2012. The record was Kestrels' first to be co-released by Sonic Unyon, and it featured a guest appearance from Ash's Tim Wheeler. The 12" EP The Moon Is Shining Our Way appeared in 2014. Kestrels' self-titled third album was released in 2016, and featured guests Elliott Frazier and Alex Gehring of Ringo Deathstarr. The record was successful, getting worldwide airplay and garnering a nomination for rock album of the year from Music Nova Scotia, but behind the scenes the group crumbled, leaving Chad Peck as the lone member. He turned to finishing his master's degree and working on music for podcasts, but he eventually decided to keep the band going. -=- SHGZ -=- -=-=-==-=-=- Shoegaze is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the late 80s. The genre is very difficult to define, and it is even more difficult to evaluate music within it. Generally, the genre is characterized by its shimmering vocals, reverberating guitars, and textural distortion that create a tranquil, opaque feeling. ---==--==---