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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. |
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Five
Roses
Secret City Records
2007 |
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