Snailhouse is the primary vehicle for the songs of Montreal-based musician Mike Feuerstack, whose resume also boasts time spent as Julie Doiron’s guitarist and bandleader, as well as longtime frontman for Ottawa’s Wooden Stars. Snailhouse is music that is oddly familiar and unique, and like any artist, Mike hates to categorize it. He likes to think of himself as a soul singer, but he knows people will hate him for it. When pressed, he will remind you that it's neither fair nor accurate to call Nick Drake a folk singer, or Nina Simone a jazz singer, or Bjork a pop star for that matter. For the sake of his ego, let's place him traveling some unknown road between these points. From its haunting and evocative opening chords to its self-assured instrumentation and lyricism, The Silence Show is Snailhouse at its best. Instrumentally, the songs are subtle and disarming, creating an atmosphere of stark beauty. The vocals, however deliberate in their drive forward, maintain a delicate and unassuming tone. Listening to The Silence Show is like being lost at sea for days and days, and later moved along at the mercy of the waves in the silence of a warm and wide open night. Feuerstack sings with ease, of broken hearts and deep sea divers, beginnings and endings. This recording braves an emotional landscape few artists are willing to explore with such honesty. And it pays off: The Silence Show is a captivating collection of songs worth listening to again and again. The Silence Show was made in the always rustic and moody Little Bullhorn Productions studio in Ottawa, Canada with producer Dave Draves (Julie Doiron, Howe Gelb, Kathleen Edwards, Wooden Stars). Besides Dave, who played organ and sang, Mike enlisted the help of other Snailhouse longtime contributors: Aaron Booth on piano and vocals, Samir Khan (of Kepler) on bass, and of course Jeremy Gara (of Kepler, countless others, and most recently, Arcade Fire) on drums, vocals and guitar. This sensitive and seasoned band rounds out Mike's own voice, guitar and lap steel. The warm production, absence of digital edits or fixes, and driven performances ensure that this CD reflects the beguiling essence of a Snailhouse live show. Feuerstack also keeps busy playing guitar in Kepler and is a member of the Wooden Stars who besides offering three of their own acclaimed full length CDs so far, were awarded a Juno for best alternative album for their collaboration with melancholy indie pop chanteuse Julie Doiron, entitled Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars. The Silence Show is his latest addition to an accomplished and lustrous recorded legacy. “Feuerstack makes smart, sharp music that never sounds sloppy or sterile.” - Pitchfork. “He accompanies some gorgeous acoustic moments with sincerity you wanna steal and metaphors that actually live among us &. an album that will blow you away as temporary treasures are being forgotten”. - Splendid. “a gorgeous, moody, occasionally heartbreaking recording that begs for headphone listening.” -Eye Magazine.

MP3: Birds and Bees