Miracle Fortress

Miracle Fortress is the brainchild of Graham Van Pelt, a Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who’s equally at home constructing wall of sound pop in the tradition of Brian Wilson as he is laying down grimey Tupac remixes.

Originally from Stratford, Ontario, Graham moved to Montreal in 2004 while still recording as a solo artist under the name Hidden in Buildings. Upon founding alternative venue space the Electric Tractor with friend and artist Jack Dylan, Van Pelt began to collaborate with Matt Shane and Martin Cesar as Think About Life, who quickly won local hearts, toured with Wolf Parade and Art Brut in 2005, and released their self-titled debut on Alien8 in 2006.

When it became apparent the Electric Tractor could no longer function in its Mile End location, Van Pelt and Jack Dylan opened a similarly-minded space in Montreal’s Griffintown called Friendship Cove. In addition to being one of Montreal’s most charming alternative venues, Friendship Cove also began to function as a jam space, studio, gallery, home, and more or less permanent art-installation. It was in this new setting that Van Pelt began to pursue solo recordings again, this time under the moniker Miracle Fortress.

A self-released 5 song EP, Watery Grave, led to a collaboration with Secret City Records in 2006 to record a full length LP. Graham spent a larger part of the year building into the Friendship Cove studio and recording the Miracle Fortress debut, taking time out to perform as a solo act opening for bands like Love is All, Vic Chestnut, and locals Sunset Rubdown and Islands. Following the completion of the album at the end of 2006, Graham decided to fill out the live material with a proper band, adding Sunset Rubdown’s Jordan Robson-Cramer, Jesse Stein of SS Cardiacs and Adam Waito of Telefauna. Five Roses will be released on May 22, 2007 in North America.




Five Roses
Secret City Records
2007