Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
A week and a half ago, I went to a No Shame showcase at the Garrison featuring The Wilderness of Manitoba and headliners Olenka & the Autumn Lovers and was pretty blown away by the entire night but for some reason forgot to post that (unfortunately, I had missed the first act, Slow Down, Molasses). So consider this edition of “The Singing Lamb Recommends…” a make-up post about these bands.
The Wilderness of Manitoba is a great band live and on record, but in two very different ways. On record, the band’s warm harmonies hug your ears and sing you into a state of peace and tranquility. The band’s recent EP Hymns Of Love & Spirits is a hauntingly beautiful collection of tunes that builds on thin layers of intricate instrumentation but simplistic melodies. Live, the Wilderness of Manitoba transform into an entirely different band – one that’s grander, stronger and creates an even bigger impact on the audience than the record. One grows an entirely different perspective and new-found sense of respect for this band after seeing a live performance of theirs. A track like “Bluebirds” somehow becomes five times more spectacular when watching and listening to the four part harmony blend together with everyone’s instrumentation in front of you. Simply amazing. Whether you listen to them at home or watch them play in front of you, The Wilderness of Manitoba will warm your musical heart.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thewildernessofmanitoba
I think me and many others have come to the consensus that Olenka and the Autumn Lovers sounds like the perfect mix of Basia Bulat and Beirut (but fronted by an equally attractive woman). This band’s indie-folk tunes is carried out beautifully by lead singer Olenka Krakus’ dynamic and unique voice followed by eccentric mix of instruments – from sharp and sweet guitars to unexpected accordions and lush orchestration. Live, you get hit by a wave of beautiful noise (pardon my excessive use of the word ‘beautiful’ throughout this article…it’s quite necessary, in my opinion) and are immediately pulled in. I’ve only seen them once but something tells me this is a band I’ll never get tired of watching and hearing.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/olenkalovers
