Lustre by Glassreel

Glassreel recorded Lustre in two Winnipeg studios: Argyle Studio in Aug 2021 (recorded by Cam Loeppky), with everything else being done at Private Ear Recording (by Mike Beaton) just after the holidays in Dec 2021.

The album was mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Philip Shaw Bova (Father John Misty, Angel Olsen, Andy Shauf) at Phil's Lab in Ottawa.

The title Lustre stems from the reflective and introspective nature of the album’s material. The band also took great pains to give the music a shimmering, enlivening quality.

Existential dread is a theme for this album (the word “dread” appears in two different songs). Connected to that is the idea of finding your place in the world, grappling with the forces of apathy and self-consciousness in order to get to your better self.

The idea of overcoming or even walking away from struggle is also a predominant theme. “Bigger Than You” and “Fix Is In” are both about walking away from destructive relationships. “Last Good Advice” is about saying goodbye to somebody before their time, which adds to this theme of existential questioning.

Most of this album was written in 2020, with some songs being completed in 2021. The fact that this writing coincides with the pandemic may help to explain the existential dread mentioned above.

The primary producer on this record is Mike Beaton (no relation to Kelly Beaton), though Trevor Graumann and Kelly Beaton also had a lot of involvement in the production. All three have production credits.

Mike Beaton had a gigantic part in the sound of this record, and he pushed Glassreel to dig deep both performance-wise and concept-wise. With nowhere to go and no shows to play, the concept grew and grew, as did the sound palette.

These eight tracks represent an artistic step forward for the band, as they present a fresh and diverse range of material.

Glassreel brings their penchant for vocal interplay, cathartic arrangements and unforgettable melodies to a new level on Lustre. The lyrics are unique but resonant, while electronic percussion and synthesizers punctuate the musical arrangement. With this album, they are looking to normalize the fade-out again.

Emboldened by the success of their previous efforts, Glassreel is taking musical risks and drawing from a diverse set of influences including Fleetwood Mac, Aimee Mann, Pixies, Fiona Apple, Phillip Glass, The New Pornographers, Jennifer Castle and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

These songs describe emotional struggles in enigmatic phrases.

“Compromise” is about struggling to trust your gut instincts (“I always compromise/on my bottom line/too fast”), being a passive versus active participant. The diversity of instruments—including brass and meditative keys—adds depth to the song’s indie rock underpinnings.

“Free Time” grapples with self-consciousness and apathy, how sometimes it feels like these forces are unstoppable (“how the logic bends/just to ice you out”). The plaintive chorus is used in a deceptive way: despite the strings and the attractive consonant chords, this is not a love song.

“Marooned” describes the ramifications of not expressing yourself (“In the moment we’ve come to be restrained”), and how isolating this can be. The song is musically spacious, allowing room for Beaton’s expansive lead vocal to be heard virtually unaccompanied.

“I’m Not Certain” captures a late bloomer’s introspective, undetermined nature.“I am careful” is contrasted with “back seat stoic/always certain”. Fitting for a song so obsessed with time (“fifteen years atonement/to face dream logic”), the musical motif nods to early rock and roll, with tremolo guitar and subdominant minor chords.

“Last Good Advice” is about having to say goodbye to someone before their time. The musical backdrop, inspired by 90’s pop and hip hop, helps to convey the message of hope even in difficult circumstances (“You say it’s been a pleasure/I hope you’re misled”).

“Bigger Than You” describes the end of a destructive relationship, and is an attempt to make sense of chaos. The song is about struggling to see things concretely (“It’s not always plain to see/I will forget what you meant to me”) rather than settling for abstractions. The noisy guitar that persists throughout this ballad helps to illustrate the tension between chaos and order.

“Up For It” explores themes of regret, obsessing over a separation (“I wake all my night to face the dead”) and the clashing of incompatible personalities. This conflict is emphasized by the intermingled vocals, which often voice cross and swap ranges amidst a retro folk rock background.

Fear and obsession figure into “Fix Is In”, which is about a menacing presence, and the feeling that the odds are stacked against you. It’s also about maintaining a fighting spirit in the face of these circumstances, which is the explanation behind the musically uplifting ending after the song’s persistent minor tonality.

Lustre is available on all major streaming services on September 30, 2022.

A meeting of breathy arrangements and atmospheric guitars, Winnipeg alt pop group Glassreel is a collaboration between Kelly Beaton and Trevor Graumann. Joined by the rhythm section of Ken Phillips and Sebastian Cox, the band’s music has been compared to artists such as Belle and Sebastian and Mazzy Star.