Artist: The Hylozoists
Title: L’Île de Sept Villes
Label: Outside Music
Release Date: 2.3.09
UPC: 623339904322
Territories: World

By: Michael Madavi

The Hylozoists were conceived by producer/multi-instrumentalist Paul Aucoin in 2001 when he wrote and recorded the debut album La Nouvelle Gauche at his studio in Nova Scotia. A Halifax-heavy line-up of backing musicians was then assembled to perform the songs at a variety of festivals and other dates. However, the project was soon relegated to the backburner as Aucoin turned his focus to responsibilities both in the studio and on stage with The Sadies.

Relocating to Toronto in 2004, Aucoin drafted a new compliment of Hylozoists from bands such as The Weakerthans, FemBots and Cuff the Duke. Having already commenced production on a sophomore effort, he ultimately abandoned the work-in-progress. For Aucoin, it was essential that he start fresh and capture the collective sound of his new legion of collaborators. At that point, The Hylozoists shed the shackles of “solo project” and blossomed into a full-blown supergroup.

Back a new, fuller sound, The Hylozoists’ third album, L’Île des Sept Villes‘ music surrounds and transports you to a lush and complex forest. Each instrument carefully adds to the overall tone of a song, thus describing a single “sound” for the Hylozoists would be almost impossible. Every song expresses emotions so complex and personal that even on a first listen, one realizes this isn’t your stereotypical instrumental band. Yes, it has some of the epic builds and swells of Explosions in the Sky, but imagine that matched with a playful Sigur Ros, and a great jam band with an enchanting strings section and a lighthearted vibraphone. This truly is a band you have to hear to understand; it’s almost meaningless to describe all the different textures that compose their fantastic and original songs. It sounds wonderfully instrumental without forgetting that it’s also a band. Anyone can find something unique and intimate in this awesome record and what surely must be an unforgettable live show.

You can preview much of the new album via their myspace.

Here’s a preview of what they’re like live: