ESMERINE (CAN)

Embracing both the elegance and delicacy of the best chamber music, and the energy and aesthetics of rock, Esmerine build theirown luxuriant and timeless universe. One can sense the issues of frustration in the face of oppression, clashes of the ancient class struggle or ethical duality between natural world and modernity in all their albums: be it in the celebrated “Dalmak” (mostly recorded in Turkey, it granted Esmerine with a highly regarded Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year), or in “Lost Voices”, or in their latest one, “Mechanics of Dominion”. Esmerine were co-founded by percussionist Bruce Cawdron (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and cellist Rebecca Foon (A Silver Mt. Zion, Saltland) in 2001, right after the two met while recording the first album by Set Fire to Flames. They released six minimalist and expressive chamber music albums, all praised by the critics. Their third record, “Dalmak”, won a Juno Award in 2014.