[MP.G] My Pet Genius

I’m not going to lie to you…I was really looking forward to checking out MP.G aka My Pet Genius at The Bovine during day 1 of CMW 2014. Their 1996 EP “Might Strike Satellite” is a favourite records in my collection, and they just released a new EP, “EMP01″ after going My Bloody Valentine-style MIA for almost 20 years.

They didn’t disappoint during their CMW showcase (plus they are really nice guys). They played a solid 8-song set consisting of tracks that will appear on their upcoming two disc “Empire of Light” LP (due in the near future), and some appear on “EMP01″. Stand out tracks were the ultra-catchy stomp of Pricked, the infectious & droning Black Mesa Rally Cry, and riff-filled Let The Experiments Begin. Sadly, they didn’t play anything from “Might Strike Satellite,” but understandably, they want to showcase the new songs off the LP. Take a listen to Pricked and Black Mesa Rally Cry via Soundcloud below.



If you missed them at CMW, don’t worry…they will be playing on May 15 at Smiling Buddha opening for Sensei (members of SIANspheric & Kestrels).

For more information on MP.G or to buy their music, visit mypetgenius.bandcamp.com.

More pics of the their CMW set? See below…. - Culture Addicts

My Pet Genius, a.k.a. [MP.G] are a Toronto alt rock/post-rock band who have been together since the release of their critically acclaimed record Might Strike Satellite in 1996. However, they’ve been somewhat incognito since then – deep underground, as their bio states – but have apparently spent the last fifteen years working on a follow-up in the form of the soon-to-be-released two-disc album Empire of Light.

Tonight’s set featured songs from said record, including one called “Pricked”, described as a song for those who like to hear themselves talk, and which the lead singer dedicated to “our dear mayor”. That song, and three others, is available on a 4-song EP called EMP01 they released digitally on April 29 in anticipation of the full-length, double sided record expected in the fall.

With a hard-driving rock sound, MP.G condenses the shoegazer drone that established their presence in the late 90s with an evolved sound that is the result of four albums’ worth of experimentation. The evidence of this is seen in a set that is tightly played and highly energetic, and a portent of good things to come when Empire of Light comes out. Check out their music on Soundcloud here, download their EP on Bandcamp here and follow them on Facebook here. - Cadence Mag

In terms of long-delayed follow-up albums, Toronto's My Pet Genius are giving My Bloody Valentine a run for their money. They released the Might Strike Satellite EP way back in 1996, and since then, they've spent 15 years recording. Now, they're finally ready to start releasing new material under the abbreviated name [MP.G].

The band have put together four records' worth of material. This has been cut down to the double album Empire of Light, which will be released this fall. In the meantime, they're previewing some of the material with the four-song digital EP EMP01. It will be out on Tuesday (April 29).

Regarding the sound of the new tunes, a press release notes, "They've honed the shoegazer drone that helped establish the band as a local mainstay in the late '90s, while adding a more sophisticated side to their visceral attack."

The album will be split into two halves: One Side, which features punchily aggressive songs akin to Swervedriver or the Pixies, and Another Side, which is more experimental and reminiscent of Pink Floyd, the Flaming Lips and Spiritualized.

While we wait for the full-length to drop, head over the [MP.G]'s Bandcamp page this coming Tuesday (April 29) for EMP01. The hazily fuzzed-out shoegaze tracks "Black Mesa Rally Cry" and "Pricked" are embedded at the bottom of this page.

Also below, scroll past the EP's tracklist to see the band's upcoming live schedule below.

EMP01:

1. Black Mesa Rally Cry
2. Let The Experiments Begin
3. And She Goes
4. Pricked

Tour dates:

05/06 Toronto, ON - Bovine Sex Club (CMW)
05/15 Toronto, ON - Smiling Buddha *

* with Sensei - Exclaim Magazine

Artist: My Pet Genius “Black Mesa Rally Cry”
Album: Empire Of Light

Having planted their roots back in the 90’s it only makes sense that MPG possesses that particular weightiness that came to define so many of the decades’ alt-rock bands. That being said, they also have this great shoegaze-y drone that immediately recalls the genre’s Brit rock origins.

Sounds like: “You’ll never know the smirk behind that smile.”

Link/Listen/Watch: - A Journal Of Musical Things

Having evolved from the shoegaze moniker they began under, I was excited to see how talented a band they really are. And that they were; tight, like a group of friends who'd been playing together since the last century. With promise of a double album in the calendar year (one side heavy, one lighter), it'll be worth the wait to check out Empire Of Light when it drops. - Bell Sympatico

MPG (My Pet Genius) made their live return last night for NXNE 2012 at the Great Hall after 13 years and it was a triumphant gig for the band.

They kicked off there set with Anjelika In Jhericurl from “Might Strike Satellite” – watch the video for the track below which was directed by Christopher Mills.


The rest of the set saw them power through a number of new tracks from their upcoming double album, “Empire Of Light”. The three core members Dean Mannella, Evan Sue-Ping and Zach Kourous were joined on bass for the latter half of the show by a member of Bronx Cheerleader. From the live set they ran through last night, Empire Of Light will definitely be an epic album and we are looking forward to hearing it.

Listen to the latest track lifted from the album.

MP3: My Pet Genius – Black Mesa Rally Cry - Culture Addicts

Time has been kind to MPG, and will be rewarding them with something special when Empire of Light, the epic double album they’ve been working towards all these years, will finally see the light of day in the coming months. - Quick Before It Melts

They had the Bovine packed to the rafters. - Chart Magazine

They had the Bovine packed to the rafters. - Chart Magazine

My Pet Genius, "Pricked (raw meat mix)" (prolific yet reclusive shoe gazers rising again) - Bell Sympatico

My Pet Genius, "Pricked (raw meat mix)" (prolific yet reclusive shoe gazers rising again) - Bell Sympatico

Culture Addicts fave shoegazers, My Pet Genius, make a much overdue return to the music scene with a raw demo of a track that will eventually appear on their upcoming ‘Empire of Light’ double LP in its final form. We have loved this band since they released the ‘Might Strike Satellite’ EP and very excited that they are back.

Wondering where they went? Over the past 10 years, my pet genius have recorded, scraped, re-recorded, abandonned, and re-worked several album’s worth of material. They said it is ‘all towards the greater goal of creating something timeless’ and if this first raw demo for the track ‘Pricked’ is any indication, this is definitely an accurate statement.

MP3: my pet genius – Pricked (Raw Meat Mix)

We are looking forward to hearing more from ‘Empire of Light’ if the spacey, raw, and beautiful ‘Pricked’ is any indication of what’s to come later this winter from the band.

For more information on my pet genius, visit Soundcloud or Facebook. - Culture Addicts