(pair of mirrors)

#19. Austra - Feel It Break

“Shoot the Water”

I write a lot about music that I like to write to, drive to, think to, laze around and drink tea to. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m often a sucker for what I deem “beautiful” music. Finding beautiful music to listen to is hardly a challenge for me. Upbeat music that pumps me up and makes me want to move on the other hand, that also has a long shelf life, is intelligent, and doesn’t sound just like everything else is something I struggle with. For 2011 Feel It Break has been the album that makes me move. Austra gets me ready to go out, get pumped up to play a show, or sometimes just make it through the last and most painful 10 minutes on the treadmill. It is the “Beat and the Pulse” (haha get it?) of this album that I love so much. That and the fact that Katie Stelmanis’ operatic vocals are incredibly fun to sing along to. 

Gothic and catchy at the same time, Feel It Break is an incredibly dark pop album. The songs are all dramatic and brooding but also make me want to dance and sing. I think it is that contradiction that makes this album so interesting, and has brought me back to it over and over again (seriously, it’s been on repeat since May). I find it impressive that songs I want to dance to are also thematically engaging, relatable and interesting. This doesn’t happen enough!

This album is so cohesive that some people might argue the songs are too alike. Personally I’m just glad there are 11 tracks worth of that dark dance-worthy sound. Learning there were 10 more songs like “Lose It” was a relief—because I couldn’t get enough. That being said I love the dynamic way Austra manages to blend really synthy pop sounds with soaring piano parts and those previously mentioned operatic vocals. For example, “The Beast” wraps up Feel It Break on a pretty serene and heart wrenching note. 

I am excited that Austra was short-listed for the Polaris Prize this year, and super proud that this sound is coming out of our city. I can’t wait to hear what Katie Stelmanis and her band bring to the table next, because they have certainly accomplished a lot in 2011.

-M