Esmerine is 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 Rebecca Foon (cello), the band has released six albums.
History
2000-2002: Founding
The chamber rock group Esmerine was formed in 2000 and was initially a duo consisting of percussionist Bruce Cawdron and
cellist Rebecca Foon. The two had recently met in
Montreal while both were recording the debut album of Canadian
post-rock band Set Fire To Flames.
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
minimalism classical music and
chamber music. The band initially performed their original music in gigs around Montreal.
2003-2010: 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.
gave it 4/5 stars.
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.
2011: La Lechuza
Foon and Cawdron began writing new music together in earnest in 2010.
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).
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.
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.
The album, Dalmak, was completed in the winter of 2012 and 2013 at Breakglass Studios in Montreal with engineer Jace Lasek.
- Reception
Dalmak was released on Constellation Records in 2013. It was awarded Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2014.
gave
Dalmak a score of 3/5. The review described the album as starting off with the band's normal style, before Turkish influences started to dominate in tracks such as "Lost River Blues II."
gave it 7.5/10 stars.
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.
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.
The record was awarded Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023
Style, live performances
Esmerine announced a series of tour dates for 2023, including around Europe and performances at the Live at Lost River Festival in
Wentworth-Nord (August 24-27) put on by Patrick Watson and
Rebecca Foon.
Decoder Magazine has described Esmerine as "new-classical, punk-drone-post rock."
Members
- Current
-
Bruce Cawdron (2000–present) - marimba, drums, melodic percussion
-
Beckie Foon (2000–present) - cello
-
Brian Sanderson (2011–present) - multiple instruments
- Past
-
Jamie Thompson (2011–2020) - drums, percussion
-
Sarah Pagé (2010-2011) - harp
-
Andrew Barr (2010-2011) - multiple instruments
Awards
|
| 2014 | Juno Awards | Dalmak | Instrumental Album of the Year | |
| 2016 | Juno Awards | Lost Voices | Instrumental Album of the Year | |
| 2016 | Juno Awards | Lost Voices | Recording Package of the Year | |
| 2018 | Juno Awards | Mechanics of Dominion | Recording Package of the Year | |
| 2023 | Juno Awards | Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More | Instrumental Album of the Year | |
| 2023 | Juno Awards | Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More | Recording Package of the Year | |
Discography
Studio albums
| 2003
! |
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Released: May 20, 2003
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Label: Madrona/Resonant
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Format: CD, LP, digital
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| 2005
! |
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Released: May 31, 2005
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Label: Madrona/Ninja Tune
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
| 2011
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Released: December 20, 2011
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Label: Constellation
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
| 2013
! |
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Released: September 3, 2013
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Label: Constellation
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
| 2015
! |
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Released: October 16, 2015
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Label: Constellation
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
| 2017
! |
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Released: October 20, 2017
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Label: Constellation
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
| 2022
! |
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Released: May 6, 2022
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Label: Constellation
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Format: CD, LP, digital
|
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Singles
| 2012
!scope="row" | "Front End Loader" | Constellation Records (May 2012) |
|
External links
