The Besnard Lakes came up in the Canadian indie scene alongside equally stage-filling groups like The New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene, though the Montreal collective’s longstanding fixation on post-rock’s openness, dream-pop’s ethereality, and psych-rock’s texturality have set them apart from their peers from day one. These are common aesthetic themes throughout the collective’s six LPs, which each match the distinct, painterly palettes of their album covers as they lean into new ideas that are often informed by an ever-changing world.
Last we heard from the band was in 2021, when their …Are the Last Great Thunderstorm Warnings landed as a calming presence nearly a year deep into the pandemic. Arriving once again in times of peril, …Are the Ghost Nation parses our current political reality and both addresses it head on and creates a compelling world to which the listener can escape. “Simplicity became the mantra for this album,” the band shares of the record’s eight familiarly swelling compositions addressing the history of human progress (or, you know, human development). Later in their breakdown of the project, they cite Spiritualized’s soothing space-rock debut Laser Guided Melodies as an influence.
“We gathered at the gorgeous barn at Lost River Studios deep in the woods of the Laurentians to record this album,” the band shares of the recording experience in Quebec. “We spent five days compiling and experimenting, and by the end of it, the album was complete. Jace [Lasek] and Oggy [Olga Goreas] had created the foundation for some of the song ideas that had been gestating and were finally ready to be unveiled. The result is a playful yet thoughtful and heartfelt collection of psychedelic sounds and experiences.”
With the album out today via Full Time Hobby, stream The Besnard Lakes Are the Ghost Nation in its entirety below, and purchase it here. You can also read on for the band’s track-by-track breakdown of the project.
1. “Calling Ghostly Nations”
Not quite a political song, but a short commentary on the history of human progress—if that’s what we still call it. Have we advanced as a society? Did we achieve greatness then forget it? There’s still revelry and weirdness in the randomness that arises from human evolution.
2. “Chemin de la Baie”
This is our shoegaze song! Jace wrote the verse riff in Rigaud and the voice memos on the iPhone automatically called it “Chemin de la Baie” since the house is near that street. We liked it so much we kept the name and it ended up informing the story of a mild drug experience while roaming through the streets of Monterey, California.
3. “Carried It All Around”
Originally written for Thunderstorm, we realized more time was required for its completion. Upon reflection, we exposed its pristine melody. Simplicity became the mantra for this album and this song led the way. A song about carrying anxiety with you and finding the courage to set it free.
4. “In Hollywood”
A melody that was circulating in Jace’s mind for many years. Unable to let it go, Jace sat with it and finally brought it to light. Written in a drop-D tuning, “In Hollywood” is atypical in the Besnard canon. Some very creative synth work from Sheenah [Ko] in the outro. A beautifully bizarre guitar solo from Gabriel [Lambert]. This one shows off Jace’s vocal stylings and has an intriguing lyrical journey for the listener to discover.
5. “Pontiac Spirits”
Specifically written as the centerpiece of the album, the structure of this song was refined in the studio at Lost River. Kevin’s daughter, Agnes Laing, composed the oboe lines and proud papa Kevin performs the dulcimer, while bouzouki, 12- string, acoustic, and electric guitars are skillfully executed by Gabriel. This is our ode to Spiritualized’s Laser Guided Melodies.
6. “Battles Lines”
Inspired by an epic recording session for a solo album by Amy Millan of Stars, Jace transformed this ruminating song into a more piano-centric form and everything else just fell together. This was the first song to be completed for this album.
7. “The Clouds Are Casting Shadows in the Sunlight”
This is Kevin’s song! In 2003 he came to record at a fledgling Breakglass Studios, when Jace and Oggy met him. An integral friendship was born during those early sessions, which evolved into a 23-year bond of camaraderie, family, and song creation together. Jace always remembered this gorgeous tune from that session and imagined it carving its place on this album. Kevin was excited by the idea. We dug the session out of the Breakglass vault and finished it. Kevin plays the lilting piano melody, Oggy sings the lead vocal. Gabriel helped create the key changes for the end and Sheenah adds some lovely vibraphone.
8. “Give Us Our Dominion”
The working title for this song was “Unresolved Resolved.” It existed as a voice memo that evolved and developed over many years. Jace finished the arrangement and Oggy masterfully created the bass line and melody for the vocals which determined the harmony and direction of the song. Gabriel’s bouzouki line in the chorus plays with the traditional Greek beat that incorporates Oggy’s Hellenic culture and heritage.
