I ambled upon this group earlier today and have been listening to their new album since. Bernice is the group and "What was that" is the album.
Bernice's core members, Robin Dann and Thom Gill, have been kicking around the Toronto scene for a while, the latter best known for playing with Owen Pallett and the former for her quirky solo work.
So you can join me in listening, here is that wonderful album. Don't blame me if you get an overpowering urge to download it.
All songs written by Robin Dann aka Bernice.
Arranged and produced by Robin Dann, Thom Gill and Leon Taheny.
Recorded in 2011. Chronologically: Bond Head with Lois, Montreal with Phil, John Dinsmore's in Liberty Village, mostly at Boombox Sound with Leon. Lil bits at Angles Up and SheriDonks.
Engineered and mixed by Leon Taheny (and a bit by Christopher Willes) and mastered by Jean Martin at the Farm.
credits
released 06 September 2011
Robin Dann (voice, etc)
Thom Gill (synthesizers, guitars, percussion, sequencing, voice)
Nico Dann (drums, percussion)
Daniel Fortin (bass)
with
Patric McGroarty (flugel horn)
Steven Dann (viola)
Janice Lindskoog (harp)
Leon Taheny (secret keys)
Colin Fisher (guitars)
and
Christopher Willes (guitar, voice)
Felicity Williams (voice)
Alex Samaras (telephone voice)
Madeleine Elton and Angus Ryer (telephone voices)
Bob Willes (telephone hello's)
Claire Harvie, photography
To create post-Feist indie rock in 2012 can be pretty simple stuff. The blueprint is well published and evaluated, as even Leslie’s latest album, Metals, exists within these confines. The difficult question is: how do you dip a toe into the playful/tough girl romance genre without sounding stale? On their debut, What Was That, Robin Dann and Thom Gill, of Toronto, ON outfit Bernice, find success doing exactly that. Exercising a substantial dose of patience and style over 11 very adult indie “rockers,” tracks like “New Bodies” and “Don’t” mix gentle, traditional chanteuse vocals with spacious, electro-tinged backing tracks. But by the time Sade-esque rhythm maker “Pacemaker” and the trip-hop extra-lite beats of “Forgiven” enter your psyche, it’s apparent that Bernice have a good grasp on how to speak to forward-thinking listeners. This makes What Was That appropriate for those ready to be seduced by conduct rather than concept. [exystence]
