Miracle Fortress

IFC premieres new video for Miracle Fortress' "Raw Spectacle"

Miracle Fortress is thrilled to present his brand new music video for the epic Was I the Wave? cut, "Raw Spectacle". Premiered on IFC yesterday and directed by Emily Kai Bock and shot by Neal Rockwell, this short film-style video adds another layer of drama to the 2011 album track. Raw Spectacle is the third video offering since the album’s release, following Miscalculations, and B-side Possession. As Graham Van Pelt explains: “We set out to create our own variation on the supernatural misfit story, without the trappings of CGI or indeed much of a budget whatsoever. Much toxic by-products were inhaled and minor burns were occasionally suffered, but we can say with pride that the result exceeded our own expectations.”

Best of the Year - Exclaim!

Rarely has electronic music come across as personal and from the heart as it does on Was I the Wave?

Line of Best Fit - Miracle Fortress live in London

By the time we get to new single and album standout Miscalculations, there’s pummeling bass, splashy drums and a full-throttle laser show. Motoring.

Raw Spectacle remix - XLR8R

The remix keeps the song's woozy vocals largely intact, but Pantha du Prince dials down the synths and inserts a steady techno pulse, creating a sort of Balearic pop tune that is undeniably pleasing to the ear.

Was I the Wave? released in the USA

Miracle Fortress’s sophomore album, Was I the Wave? is finally out in the USA, coming on the heels of his sold out cross-Canada tour with Shad. Following tonight’s homecoming launch party in Montreal at the Torn Curtain, Graham will take a brief break before hitting the road again in June with Junior Boys, including shows in Toronto and Ottawa and 10 dates in the US. (See below for details). If you haven’t caught it yet, Miracle Fortress is also on the cover of this month’s Exclaim! and is appearing in features and reviews across the continent, to much applause. We recently dug what the UK's Line of Best Fit had to say about it, especially considering the record isn't even out there yet (more on that soon). If you don’t have the acclaimed (and rather addictive) album yet, ask for it at your local record store, or buy it from miraclefortress.com (CD, LP or digital) or direct from us.

Was I the Wave? is out today

Miracle Fortress’s long awaited sophomore LP, Was I the Wave? finally drops today in Canada, and now the Montreal producer has announced additional tour dates in support of the album—thirteen shows with the Juniors Boys in Canada and the US. These shows will follow the already-announced Canadian Tour with Shad in May, and includes stops in Toronto, New York, Nashville, and Chicago. Full tour dates listed after the jump. In addition to the Canadian release today, the album is available worldwide direct from miraclefortress.com in digital, CD and LP formats. (It will see release in the US on May 17th.) You can also order the CD and LP direct from Secret City.

Was I the Wave? in Nylon's hear me now

“Part experimental-ambient and part 80s pop, Was I the Wave is all massive synth-scapes littered with electro beats, and Van Pelt’s dreamy wail towering above.”

Was I the Wave? Montreal Gazette review

“strange and beautiful … soaring melodies and moody, atmospheric sonic beds … filled with the kind of vocal and instrumental hooks you can't leave behind.”

Miracle Fortress announces long-awaited sophomore album, Was I the Wave?

It's been a long time coming, even longer for those of who fell in love with Five Roses back in 2007. Miracle Fortress has finally returned with a sophomore offering, entitled Was I the Wave? It will be out via the newly launched MiracleFortress.com as of April 26th, and is available for pre-order now from the new store. Pre-orders get an instant download of the album's first single "Raw Spectacle" as well a remix by Pantha du Prince. For the less committal, you can grab the single here in exchange for an email address. The album itself is available in LP, CD, and high quality digital formats, and will be in actual stores across Canada on April 26th as well, and May 17th in the USA. Miracle Fortress has announce the first leg of touring in support of the album, a cross Canada affair in May. You can get details on those here. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

Miracle Fortress Perform New Tracks at CMW 2011 on Spinner

"At the show, Van Pelt opted to offer up new tracks such as 'Miscalculations' and 'Everything Works' in a near-pitch black room, with only flickering laser lights outlining his body enough for the audience to see him. While that might have enraged photographers, it played to the strength of the throbbing beats and helped create a distinct mood for Van Pelt's newfound niche of late-night dance club soundtracks."

Torontoist review of Miracle Fortress at CMW 2011

"Hella versatile. It was a party by the end of the set."

Miracle Fortress Lee's Palace Review on Exclaim!

"Van Pelt and drummer just let the groove of his cerebral, bass-heavy "bedroom club" music do all the talking as a laser light show sprayed the ceiling and jaws dropped to the floor."

CMF night 2 review on Eye Weekly

"This less-than-30-minute set offered us just a handful of the new tunes (including the stellar “Miscalculations,” which sounds like the hit Cut Copy never wrote)"

Miracle Fortress out on international adventure

Miracle Fortress are off on a quick international adventure. They're the third consecutive band to make the trek out to Iceland for the excellent annual Airwaves festival, and will be playing a showcase tomorrow night in Reykjavik. Then it's off to London for what are sure to be two packed shows. If you're on either island, check 'em out!

Miracle Fortress to play September dates

Little known fact: the evolved Miracle Fortress live show is the best kept secret of the Canadian indie touring circuit. Anyone who has seen the foursome over the past month or two knows that this band means business on stage. Fortunately for a bunch of you, they've be hitting a smattering of U.S. towns on the East Coast in September to win over your hearts. There's also one big final hometown show in Montreal at La Tulipe before Graham and co. hunker down to record the follow-up to Five Roses in earnest... Details in the shows section!

Behind Miracle Fortress's "Have You Seen In Your Dreams"

If you haven't already seen the wonder-video that is Sinbad Richardson's take on "Have You Seen In Your Dreams", you should. For those who are curious about its actual creation, Sinbad has a little piece in the newly-launched Savfaire magazine all about it.

Miracle Fortress double feature!

Yup, that's right...the fountain of joy that is Five Roses keeps on gushsing, this time in the form of not one, but two marvelous music videos. Though "Have You Seen In Your Dreams" (directed by Sinbad Richardson here in Montreal) and "Maybe Lately" (directed by Daniel Stafford-Clark across the pond) were each created independently of the other, we think you'll agree they play of each other rather nicely. Enjoy!