Wake Island released the Use It As A Weapon // Uncomfortable B-Sides EP last month and just finished up a tour of the Middle East and Europe. With half the band being from Beirut, they were elated for their first shows in Lebanon. They had obviously been there many times, but with global tensions the way they are right now, they were even more charged up to bring their music to their homeland.
While over there, the Montreal quartet recorded a brand new tune that echoed their experience.
Vocalist/keyboardist Philippe Manasseh elaborates: “Our presence in Lebanon was very politically and personally charged this time, and we felt the repercussions of the regional and Syrian tensions pretty much everywhere. On one hand, there was a strange feeling of denial going on, a sort of bubble that people in Lebanon put themselves in to shield from constant worry; and on the other hand, we saw a great exaggeration of the situation from the big news media, that was actually fueling worries, mostly from people living abroad.”
“Submarine” came as a reflection on this situation with its impassioned lyrics over “moody art-rock” psychedelia. The track premiered atexclaim yesterday and now you can pay-what-you-want for it at the band’s bandcamp.
Vocalist/keyboardist Philippe Manasseh elaborates: “Our presence in Lebanon was very politically and personally charged this time, and we felt the repercussions of the regional and Syrian tensions pretty much everywhere. On one hand, there was a strange feeling of denial going on, a sort of bubble that people in Lebanon put themselves in to shield from constant worry; and on the other hand, we saw a great exaggeration of the situation from the big news media, that was actually fueling worries, mostly from people living abroad.”
“Submarine” came as a reflection on this situation with its impassioned lyrics over “moody art-rock” psychedelia. The track premiered atexclaim yesterday and now you can pay-what-you-want for it at the band’s bandcamp.
Wake Island’s fall tour began last weekend at Pop Montreal and continues through CMJ, with Northeast and Midwest US dates mixed in as well. A full list of dates can be found below.
Wake Island released their sophomore LP, It Takes Time To Be Uncomfortable, earlier this year and with the help of long-time producerJace Lasek (The Besnard Lakes, Wolf Parade, Suuns), the band infused their traditional songwriting approach with an inherently modern sound, informed by eclectic artists such as Grizzly Bear, Foals and Charles Mingus.
Released as a companion to the full-length, Use It As A Weapon // Uncomfortable B-Sides is a collection of outtakes from theUncomfortable sessions. This eclectic group of songs highlights the band’s affinity for dense psychedelic sounds, simple grooves and daring mixtures of the two.
Wake Island Tour Dates:
Oct 4 – Toronto, ONT – Double Double Land
Oct 5 – Ypsilanti, MI – Woodruff’s
Oct 6 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Oct 7 – Rock Island, IL – Daytrotter
Oct 9 – Chicago, IL – Quencher’s
Oct 10 – Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s
Oct 11 – Columbus, OH – Tree Bar
Oct 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – Howler’s
Oct 13 – Washington, DC – The Dunes
Oct 16 – New York, NY – Bowery Electric – Tijuana Gift Shop Official CMJ Showcase