“Content to float inside the billowing space of a vaguely dour mood, the latest single from Montreal duo Solar Year uses airy synth pads, oscillating pitch shifters, and prickly frequencies to conjure an icy resilience” – PITCHFORK
TODAY sublime Montreal duo Solar Year release their much anticipated debut Waverly available now for a limited vinyl run and digitally through Ceremony (US) / Splendour (EU). Labeled as a “re-release” of an album that was quietly released in limited quantities during summer 2012 in Montreal. As an album and a project striving to set itself apart from the status quo, Solar Year returned to Waverly in late 2012 to give the album a new look and fresh perspective they had felt was lacking last summer. The result pushed Solar Year into a new level of artistic freedom and creativity — Waverly will now be presented as a revamped experience entirely re-mastered, newly mixed, and re-sequenced with updates on several tracks matched with the addition of new material.
Alongside the record release, Solar Year also unleashed their transcendent new video for “Global Girlfriend” single today directed by Allie Avital Tsypin of Brooklyn-based collective BANGS. The band describes the concept behind the video as ” essentially a series of “paintings” that explore sacred spaces, death, relaxation, and ideas of paradise” the end result landing in the surreal.

Somewhere in between late-night loft parties and off-kilter art installations sits the production of David Ertel and Ben Borden, otherwise known as Solar Year. Praised for their forward thinking and to-the-point pop productions with a touch for the foreboding, Solar Year create music for the globally minded listener. The duo first saw rose to prominence for their single “Brotherhood” which received favorable attention from Pitchfork, Gorilla Vs. Bear, & Stereogum and soon saw release by Montreal imprint Arbutus (Grimes, TOPS, Blue Hawaii).
Solar Year have a knack for pulling samples from wherever they find inspiration. Those are soon matched to pitched-down electronic productions and Ertel’s soaring, choir-like vocals, making for an uncanny clash of themes that otherwise sit several dimensions apart. This may stem from the fact that they are never in one place for an extended period of time. Ertel & Borden have a habit of setting up on one coast for a few months only to pack up and move on to the next destination a few days later.
Kicking off 2013, Solar Year were featured as the first release on No Fear Of Pop’s newly minted 7″ label, Stratosfear. The “Night & Day” 7″ received widespread acclaim and a stunning video for b-side “Magic Idea” directed by long-time How To Dress Well collaborator Jamie Harley. The duo also received the remix treatment from Heathered Pearls for single “Lines” and were recently spotlighted in Interview Magazine’s Discovery feature and submitted a mind-blowing Dummy Mag Mix.
*For those in the New York area Solar Year will celebrate the record release this Thursday 6/27 @ Bar On (45 Mott St basement bar in Chinatown). The rave style party will run from 11pm-5am with sets fromSolar Year / Dressden Dresses / AHA RAW / YOUNGWORLD with full details HERE
For more information on this project please reply directly to this email!
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“Montreal’s Solar Year will reissue a revamped, remastered version of their debut…“Seeing the Same” is the last track we’ll hear till then, its synths sounding something like sine waves in a funhouse—bending, flopping and winking back.” – The FADER
“Montreal, home of Guide favourites Grimes and Jacques Greene, provides more proof that there’s something in the water with this new single from young guns Solar Year…Night & Day is a blurry affair – all plasticine beats and pained-yet-hopeful existential cries – THE GUARDIAN
There’s a dream-like disconnect to the songs, not unlike dance music wrapped in a down comforter – UNDER THE RADAR