Swan Lake
The genesis for Swan Lake was hatched through the heady Canadian experimental scene in 2005 amid the swirling workings of a number of related bands. The collaboration of musicians that formed the group, encompassing Spencer Krug (of Sunset Rubdown, Fifths of Seven and Wolf Parade), Carey Mercer (of Frog Eyes and Blackout Beach) and Dan Bejar (of Destroyer and New Pornographers) had been some time in the making. The trio had often worked with one another in some capacity prior to Swan Lake, with Krug and Mercer also for a time living together as roommates. Rumours began to abound (particularly after Bejar picked Frog Eyes as his backing band for a European tour with Destroyer) that a collaborative venture between the three might very well be in the pipeline.
And so it was. With the backdrop of this collective pedigree, super-group “The Songwriters Project” (or “Swan Lake” as they ultimately renamed themselves) was born. Debut album Beast Moans (titled as such by Mercer following a remark Krug made describing the sound as “a boar dying in a tar pit”) was released in November 2006 (through the Jagjaguwar label). Entirely self produced, the album was recorded during February and March 2006 across two Canadian locations; the vast majority in a remote cabin on Vancouver Island. The improvisational, “on-the-spot” manner in which the record was made reflected a break Swan Lake had made with their associated outfits. Indicative of this, for example, was the make-shift way in which the drums were recorded: with no natural drummer between the three, the rhythm tracks were split, literally, between Krug and Mercer, with one hitting the hi-hat and the other the snare.
The much anticipated follow up to Beast Moans came in March 2009 (this month in the UK). Enemy Mine represented a more collaborative approach to the group’s previous offering, which was largely under Krug’s direction. This time around each member would contribute 3 songs a piece, giving Enemy Mine a rather unique “3 E.P.s” feel. Alongside this fresh approach lies a pronounced attempt to make a more stripped down, deliberately collaborative record. In Krug’s words, “There’s architecture here”.
Still members of their respective groups, Swan Lake are a testament to the creative output and musical flexibility its individual members possess.
MYSPACE.COM/SWANLAKETHEBAND: For a taste of some of Swan Lake’s tunes (from both albums), up to date gig and tour information and a few pictures of the band follow this link.
SWAN LAKE @ LAST./FM: Feel free to get hold of some more Swan Lake pictures at last.fm and quick access to the groups associated outfits.
SWAN LAKE @ JAGJAGUWAR: A number of mp3 downloads are available through the label website along with up-to-date and past news feeds.
SUNSET RUBDOWN – SHUT UP I AM DREAMING [LP REVIEW]: “Not since, ‘The Glow Pt. 2’ by The Microphones have I been so enchanted by a lo-fi album – indeed, not since then have I stumbled across one with such ambition. Because, in this record, Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Frog Eyes fame, has “done a James Mercer” and developed a solo project that should eclipse all his previous work...” – Tim Dellow
DESTROYER – TROUBLE IN DREAMS [LP REVIEW]: “If nothing else, Bejar has been incredibly efficient in his recorded output, even finding time between both Destroyer and New Pornographers to release an album with Cacey Mercer and Spencer Krug under the Swan Lake moniker. Quite remarkably, quality control has remained resolutely high throughout his career trajectory and Bejar is generally not begat of the same inconsistencies that plague similarly prolific artists, such as Ryan Adams, not that the two are especially sonically comparable...” – Steve Pietrzykowski
Sadly, there are no Swan Lake videos. Anywhere. Maybe ‘cos they don’t play shows. So you’ll settle for a couple from Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, yeah? And one from Destroyer?
WOLF PARADE – I’LL BELIEVE IN ANYTHING [LIVE]
SUNSET RUBDOWN – FROM THE PIER (AND DEAD AND SHIMMERING) [LIVE]
DESTROYER – FOAM HANDS [LIVE]