WATCH AND SHARE “ONE GARDEN” HERE
POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE LONG-LISTED ALBUM, PUFF LP : IN THE AIR WITHOUT A SHAPE, OUT NOW VIA ARTS & CRAFTS
PERFORMANCES SUPPORTING WASHED OUT BEGIN JUNE 19
STREAM / BUY PUFF LP : IN THE AIR WITHOUT A SHAPE HERE
“...there's an almost tactile nature to the pop-jazz-R&B of Robin Dann and her cast of collaborators that is both singular and wondrous.” - Exclaim! 8/10
“...it occupies your subconscious, leaving vestiges of melodies and lyrics behind that lie dormant for stretches of time, resurfacing intermittently and maddeningly.” - Tiny Mix Tapes 4.5/5
“...a delightful access point to the cloudy emotional zones Bernice have always occupied, from a warm place of Snuggie-bound safety.” - NOW Magazine 4/5
"...spellbindingly good. It’s like watching an abstract painting form in front of you." - CBC Music
PHOTO CREDIT : Claire Harvie // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Recently, Toronto experimental pop group Bernice saw their new album, Puff LP: In the air without a shape, nominated for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize. Today, they’re sharing the new video for album track “One Garden”, created, shot, and edited by Devon Sproule and Paul Curreri. This week, the band will also share the stage with Washed Out for performances in Montreal and Toronto. Full details listed below.
WATCH AND SHARE “ONE GARDEN” HERE
Puff LP: In the air without a shape – the minimalist follow-up to 2017’s maximalist, Grammy Award-winner Shawn Everett-produced Puff EP – has been received with critical acclaim. Currently in the Top 50 on both the NACC chart and !earshot, CBC Music calls the album "spellbindingly good. It’s like watching an abstract painting form in front of you," while the latest single “He’s The Moon”, grabbed the attention of the New York Times who proclaimed it to be “a monument to ephemerality.”
The album finds Bernice tackling pop minimalism; the stripped-down album touches on jazz as much as the enigmatic mix of pop, electronic, and R&B with their unique air of playfulness. Sitting between Enya, Julia Holter, Chairlift, and Deerhoof where clear vocal melodies fly kites over spare arrangements, Bernice’s new album attempts to mimic the playful intimacy of the band’s live show.
“Our goal was to capture how we really sound,” says Robin Dann of the new album, which also features new takes on EP standouts “David” and “St Lucia”. “Some people in a room, playing music together.”
PERFORMANCES SUPPORTING WASHED OUT
June 19 - L'Astral - Montreal, QC
June 21 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON
MORE PRAISE FOR BERNICE
“from the realm of lowkey bedroom pop to a strobe lit dancefloor” - The FADER
“an enticing balance between playful abandon and chilly remove... its blend of physical, emotional, and cerebral is well worth your time” - Stereogum (Best EPs of 2017)
“blends melodies reminiscent of artists like Sade with the playful sounds of artists like Deerhoof and Dirty Projectors ... one of the most interesting bands out of Toronto right now” - Pigeons & Planes
“[Bernice] create a mesmerizing sound... so much so that it is easy to hit repeat on the track and you only realize a handful of hours later that's all you've been listening to.” - Noisey
"a monument to ephemerality" - Jon Pareles, New York Times
“deeply textured, largely experimental songs filled with wondrous and mysterious sounds” - Bob Boilen, NPR's All Songs Considered
“intricate, dream-like music from deeply emotional lyrics and woozy electronic beats.” - Pitchfork
MORE ABOUT BERNICE
Born to a musical family, the daughter of a symphony harpist and the former Toronto Symphony Orchestra's principal violist, and a graduate of Goldsmiths' MA in Music, Dann's background, formal training, and experimental sensibilities developed into Bernice's sparse arrangements and pop-minded songwriting, often following curious and unexpected paths.
Bernice’s members and collaborators including longtime Owen Pallett collaborator Thom Gill (keyboard/sampler) as well as Colin Fisher (guitar), Daniel Fortin (bass), Philippe Melanson (drums), and Felicity Williams (supporting vocals). All are professional musicians from Toronto's music community and members of Owen Pallett, DIANA, John Southworth, Bahamas, Martha Wainwright, The Barr Brothers, and many others.
Bernice have been performing actively since late 2010 and have released one full-length album (what was that, 2011), an EP (when I know how to climb, 2013), and a “cassingle” in 2015, all released independently. Bernice’s 2017 breakout Puff EP on Arts & Crafts was praised by Pitchfork (“intricate, dream-like music from deeply emotional lyrics and woozy electronic beats”), NPR ("deeply textured, largely experimental songs filled with wondrous and mysterious sounds"), Stereogum (Best EPs of 2017), Exclaim (#1 EP of 2017), Pigeons and Planes (“one of the most interesting bands out of Toronto right now”), The FADER, Noisey, Zane Lowe, and more.