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Lustre

by Glassreel

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1.
Bigger Than You And there's a reason why we never had goodbye and there's a reason why Yeah there's a reason why I ride days out into night like some new battle cry They say it's bigger than you but they don't own the truth It's not always plain to see I will forget what you meant to me and there's a reason why You found a way to me in spite of me living on empty But you let the past decide there was nothing to satisfy your own hypnotic tide They say it's bigger than you but they don't own the truth It's not always plain to see I will forget what you meant to me and there's a reason why
2.
Compromise 03:35
Compromise Letting the craze end louder and draining Oh, the end It's true on its face the dread oh, the dread You say it's all over minds are checking out en masse I always compromise on my bottom line too fast Immersed in the maze again or am I too lazy to be a friend A drought in one day of many one of many for you yeah it's all over minds are checking out en masse I always compromise on my bottom line too fast Happy to be in line happy to be in mind happy to be in line happy to be in mind Said it's all over minds are checking out en masse I always compromise on my bottom line too fast Happy to be in line happy to be in mind happy to be anything happy to be in mind happy to be in line happy to be anything
3.
Last Good Advice You take your time putting off your decision just waiting for a state of remission and come what may When I come home to figure out the morning I'm nowhere of name You flip the rhyme the stars align no, you wouldn't think twice on your last good advice You don't wake for days nostalgic the threats overhead but you say it's been a pleasure I hope you're misled We have something in the paths of rain You flip the rhyme the stars align no, you wouldn't think twice on your last good advice on your last good advice on your last good advice we were up all the night with your good advice
4.
Fix Is In 06:45
Fix Is In Running myself through a wall for you out on a whim to the scene, that's all just running myself through a wall Is it too late to go back on all of the words you chalked up to fate saving the line and the date to play at doubting it The fix is in maybe but this year will never drain me what you're conjuring daily is playing with my safety Play it all off like I'm faking days laid out on the floor holding the knives in the door The fix is in maybe but this year will never drain me what you're conjuring daily you're playing like you're stable The fix is in maybe but you never get to claim me how you're tumbling lately isn't cancelling my labours But you never get to claim me how you're tumbling lately isn't cancelling my labours isn't cancelling my labours isn't cancelling my labours
5.
Free Time 03:28
Free Time We were right again we were right again empathy came only with conviction all we know is theme and repetition To the lights again the midway suspense fell into a trap, frozen in place I always knew free time existed anyway Got into bought into but it's juvenile got into bought into but it's cynical Always lose the meaning in cold faith your conversation stolen and delayed We were right again we were right again how the logic bends just to ice you out Got into bought into but it's juvenile got into bought into but it's cynical Catch me on the wrong day with my walk a crawl what's in our power and what is inevitable
6.
Up For It 03:37
Up For It I wake all my night to face the dead maybe you'd rather maybe you'd rather find your blood instead maybe you'd rather save it up would it be enough save it up could it be enough Sleeping in my clothes the snow route comes and goes I dreaded that the most Say it swallowed all your days and now it's hard to get away I don't know it's hard to say I wake all my night to face the dead maybe you'd rather maybe you'd rather find a love instead maybe you'd rather save the trouble save it up could it be enough Sleeping in my clothes the snow route comes and goes I dreaded that the most Your apartment blue and grey do you chime in on the day I don't know it's hard to say I don't know it's hard to say I don't know it's hard to say I don't know it's hard to say I don't know it's hard to say
7.
I'm Not Certain Skipping to the moment I am careful back seat stoic always certain you could get away from the silent turning (while I'm) floating through the daydream I am earning I'm not certain I'm not certain Fifteen years atonement to face dream logic guided by the river floating upstream (after) half a life in waiting how easy to forget all the ways to doubt you over a cigarette This could be a dig this could be a dig this could be a dig I'm not certain I'm not certain I'm not certain I'm not certain
8.
Marooned 03:43
Marooned In the moment we've come to be in the moment we've come to be restrained the strain of knowing when to back away is it better to lay it out today How can you think it's a sign? See it all the time you don't have what you say you have Marooned, marooned, marooned we are staying marooned, marooned, marooned we are staying marooned, marooned, marooned In the moment that's come to be in the moment that's come to be restrained a simple marking of territory those words are going to wreck your diety How can you think it's a sign? See it all the time you don't have what you say you have Marooned, marooned, marooned we are staying marooned, marooned, marooned we are staying marooned, marooned, marooned

about

Glassreel recorded Lustre in two Winnipeg studios: Argyle Studio in Aug 2021 (recorded by Cam Loeppky), with everything else being done at Private Ear Recording (by Mike Beaton) just after the holidays in Dec 2021.

The album was mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Philip Shaw Bova (Father John Misty, Angel Olsen, Andy Shauf) at Phil's Lab in Ottawa.

The title Lustre stems from the reflective and introspective nature of the album’s material. The band also took great pains to give the music a shimmering, enlivening quality.

Existential dread is a theme for this album (the word “dread” appears in two different songs). Connected to that is the idea of finding your place in the world, grappling with the forces of apathy and self-consciousness in order to get to your better self.

The idea of overcoming or even walking away from struggle is also a predominant theme. “Bigger Than You” and “Fix Is In” are both about walking away from destructive relationships. “Last Good Advice” is about saying goodbye to somebody before their time, which adds to this theme of existential questioning.

Most of this album was written in 2020, with some songs being completed in 2021. The fact that this writing coincides with the pandemic may help to explain the existential dread mentioned above.

The primary producer on this record is Mike Beaton (no relation to Kelly Beaton), though Trevor Graumann and Kelly Beaton also had a lot of involvement in the production. All three have production credits.

Mike Beaton had a gigantic part in the sound of this record, and he pushed Glassreel to dig deep both performance-wise and concept-wise. With nowhere to go and no shows to play, the concept grew and grew, as did the sound palette.

These eight tracks represent an artistic step forward for the band, as they present a fresh and diverse range of material.

Glassreel brings their penchant for vocal interplay, cathartic arrangements and unforgettable melodies to a new level on Lustre. The lyrics are unique but resonant, while electronic percussion and synthesizers punctuate the musical arrangement. With this album, they are looking to normalize the fade-out again.

Emboldened by the success of their previous efforts, Glassreel is taking musical risks and drawing from a diverse set of influences including Fleetwood Mac, Aimee Mann, Pixies, Fiona Apple, Phillip Glass, The New Pornographers, Jennifer Castle and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

These songs describe emotional struggles in enigmatic phrases.

“Compromise” is about struggling to trust your gut instincts (“I always compromise/on my bottom line/too fast”), being a passive versus active participant. The diversity of instruments—including brass and meditative keys—adds depth to the song’s indie rock underpinnings.

“Free Time” grapples with self-consciousness and apathy, how sometimes it feels like these forces are unstoppable (“how the logic bends/just to ice you out”). The plaintive chorus is used in a deceptive way: despite the strings and the attractive consonant chords, this is not a love song.

“Marooned” describes the ramifications of not expressing yourself (“In the moment we’ve come to be restrained”), and how isolating this can be. The song is musically spacious, allowing room for Beaton’s expansive lead vocal to be heard virtually unaccompanied.

“I’m Not Certain” captures a late bloomer’s introspective, undetermined nature.“I am careful” is contrasted with “back seat stoic/always certain”. Fitting for a song so obsessed with time (“fifteen years atonement/to face dream logic”), the musical motif nods to early rock and roll, with tremolo guitar and subdominant minor chords.

“Last Good Advice” is about having to say goodbye to someone before their time. The musical backdrop, inspired by 90’s pop and hip hop, helps to convey the message of hope even in difficult circumstances (“You say it’s been a pleasure/I hope you’re misled”).

“Bigger Than You” describes the end of a destructive relationship, and is an attempt to make sense of chaos. The song is about struggling to see things concretely (“It’s not always plain to see/I will forget what you meant to me”) rather than settling for abstractions. The noisy guitar that persists throughout this ballad helps to illustrate the tension between chaos and order.

“Up For It” explores themes of regret, obsessing over a separation (“I wake all my night to face the dead”) and the clashing of incompatible personalities. This conflict is emphasized by the intermingled vocals, which often voice cross and swap ranges amidst a retro folk rock background.

Fear and obsession figure into “Fix Is In”, which is about a menacing presence, and the feeling that the odds are stacked against you. It’s also about maintaining a fighting spirit in the face of these circumstances, which is the explanation behind the musically uplifting ending after the song’s persistent minor tonality.

Lustre is available on all major streaming services on September 30, 2022.

credits

released September 30, 2022

All songs arranged and performed by Glassreel and Mike Beaton
Music and Lyrics by Trevor Graumann, Kelly Beaton and Mike Beaton
Produced by Mike Beaton, Trevor Graumann and Kelly Beaton
Recorded at Private Ear Recording by Mike Beaton and Argyle Studio by Cam Loeppky
Mixed by Mike Beaton
Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova
Artwork by Kelly Beaton
Artwork Photography by Andrew Workman

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Glassreel Winnipeg, Manitoba

A meeting of breathy arrangements and atmospheric guitars, Winnipeg alt pop group Glassreel is a collaboration between Kelly Beaton and Trevor Graumann. Joined by the rhythm section of Ken Phillips and Andrew Workman, the band’s music has been compared to artists such as Belle and Sebastian and Mazzy Star. ... more

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