Sunstroke, produced by Jesse Zubot (Tanya Tagaq, Fond of Tigers, Dan Mangan + Blacksmith), is Copilots' third album and their second release through Drip Audio. A long period of introspection by Skye has resulted in the most personal and bold music the band has played thus far. The constraints of short form pop and straight ahead rock are abandoned without sacrificing craftsmanship. The band brings their collective
experience with and love for avant-garde jazz, punk, free improv, pop, noise, and psychedelic rock into a beautiful and mysterious balance. Producer Jesse Zubot pushes the band beyond their comfort zones as they explore strange new territories of form and sound.
Sunstroke features a deep rhythmic foundation, fierce and tender guitar playing, soaring vocals, and surreal synth and string textures. Dream-like lyricism explores memories of childhood, the power of wilderness,
mortality and the creative act.
Copilots came out of a long musical relationship between founding members Skye Brooks, Pete Schmitt and Dylan Smith. There is a wide scope of influences and experiences that has created the band's sound, which is both raw and refined, expansive and intimate. A restrained intensity simmers throughout their performances, at times boiling over into ecstatic abandon. Band leader Skye Brooks is known for his explosive and subtle drumming in cutting edge Vancouver bands, like Juno-award winning Fond of Tigers, Juno-nominated Inhabitants, the Tony Wilson 6tet, as well as great Canadian songwriters such as Veda Hille and Ndidi Onukwulu. With Copilots, Skye picks up the guitar and steps up to the mic. Each member of the band is a fully realized musician, songwriter and artist in their own right. Pete Schmitt leads his own 200 Suns project and plays bass for Inhabitants and Sunkiller. Cole Schmidt leads Juno-award winning band Pugs and Crows as well as Sick Boss. Karma Sohn has released an album of beautifully crafted art-pop songs. Dylan Smith drums in 200 Suns and is an accomplished visual artist who creates the artwork and design for Copilots.
Press:
"Sunstroke is understated, experimental, and incredibly cool." - Ear To The Ground
"Sunstroke is an album that you’ll want to sit down and listen to as a majestic whole. Combining elements of psychedelic rock and prog rock – with just a touch of indie – this album is a record that you can get lost in."
- Invisible Ink Music Blog
"Six-plus-minute songs can be tricky—too much repetition can make one question why the song has to be so long—but Copilots strike just the right balance on their more sprawling numbers."
- Grayowl Point
"The result is intelligent, floating, and there is no other way to describe it, modern psychedelic rock, played by musicians of very high caliber, augmented by electronic sound and with lyrics submerged just enough to force the listener under the surface of the music."
- BC Musician Magazine
Album
Review: Grayowl Point
|
