Jamie Cummins,
Galen Hartley,
Kelby MacNayr and
Marc Jenkins
Influences
Nick Drake, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Gillian Welch, Mississippi John Hurt, Elliott Smith, João Gilberto, The Zombies, Os Mutantes, The Kinks, Elvis Costello.
Sounds Like
Elephant Island plays beautiful and unusual music. We write well crafted pop songs that are equal parts tension and warmth.
The music on Elephant Island's third album Don't Say You Don't Know What You Want is built on tension; a desperation that's kind of warm and cozy. Over the course of its ten songs, singer Galen Hartley seems to argue every angle of a private madness, retracing his steps over themes of family entanglement, doubt and desire. In accompaniment, the band roams wild across the territory of Elliott Smith, João Gilberto and The Zombies, creating a dynamic indie folk landscape.
Elephant Island started as a quiet sound: an accordion's wheeze drifting out a bookstore window atop only finger-style guitar, finely textured drums and haunting vocal harmonies. Beautiful and unusual music. Long songs played at low volumes for seated audiences and documented to great effect on their self-titled debut in 2004.
With the understated grandness and manic edges of Monument, released in 2006, the band announced its entrance into the world of shorter songs meant to be played standing up. Don't Say You Don't Know What You Want was generously funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and will be released by Aaargh! Records in January, 2009. Featuring the addition of cello, trumpet, saxophone, upright bass and mellotron, it is the group's most ambitious recording to date, a concise and purposeful account of honesty, illusion and uncertain victories.
Hey there...small world indeed. I really need to blog more! We finished Pauline's ep last spring, and it turned out really well. Good work yourself, and here's hoping we share a stage sometime soon...
Hey guys! It's been a while. Your new stuff sounds great! Perhaps we could do another show together sometime. Let us know the next time you're taking a ferry over.
Thanks for the music islanders - since this is the second year in a row we've shared a stage on October 13 I declare it to be officially, Elephant Cup day!! Huzzah!
Gooood morning to you all dear Elephants. and how are things in beautiful Victoria? The insane climate of Norway has forced us to seek shelter (once again) in our beloved basement studio. It sure was a nice consert we witnessed in that beautiful town of yours. Hope to come back soon:-) All the best
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