Music
Press
Tim Gilbertson is trying on a few new musical boots.
Not only is the local pop-rocker working on an electro project -- inspired by "healthy servings of Gary Neuman, Kraftwerk, Rick James and Chromeo" -- he is also playing guitar for what he calls a " '90s alterna-rock band."
Meet the Sorels, fronted by Lorette Mercier and philosophy student/accidental singer Jed Gauthier.
"I played guitar for so long and it never even occurred to me to sing," Gauthier says with a laugh. "At some point, I decided to start trying and it was definitely a trial-and-error thing. Hopefully now, I'm at a point where I can at least carry a tune."
Absolutely. Gauthier's scratchy pipes are strong yet aching, like the morning after a booze-and cigarette-filled night, providing a rugged contrast to Mercier's cool and haunting vocals and the swirling-guitar goodness of their debut, Ride the Jam. They're hoping to release the album in April, but four of the nine songs are now streaming on the band's MySpace page -- including Sparrows and Blossom, which indirectly refers to the '90s TV show starring Mayim Bialik and Joey Lawrence.
"When I wrote it, I think I ripped off this riff from this band, Phoenix," says Gauthier. "I don't know if you want to print that. But the reason why we named it Blossom is because of all the whoa-hos in the song -- it's just a reference to Joey Lawrence."
Awesome.
The Sorels perform Saturday at Wunderbar Hofbrauhaus, 8120 101st St., with Whiskeyface and Scenic Route to Alaska.
- edmonton journal
Discography
Ride the Jam - full length - release date April 15th 2011
Photos
Bio
The Sorels are a five piece indie rock band from Edmonton Alberta. The band is co-fronted by songwriter/singer/guitar player, Jed Gauthier and singer/synth player, Lorette Mercier. The rest of the band is rounded out by Chris Workun on drums, Ezra Gomien on bass/backing vocals and Tim Gilbertson on lead guitar. The members of The Sorels have been playing together in one form or another for a number of years but this current lineup can be traced back to around November of 2010. They recorded their debut album, Ride the Jam at edmontone studios with Doug Organ in september 2010, and had it mixed and mastered by Jesse Gander at Hive studios in Vancouver. The album is set to be released April 15th 2011.
The Sorels sound is as much indebted to the loud abrasive guitar sounds of early 90's indie rock as to the dreamy pop sensibilities of 70's bands like fleetwood mack. The guitars and bass are swirling the drums are loud but at the center is a pop gem wrapped in the bittersweet vocals of the dual lead singers. Dig it
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