Montreal duo October Gold is a collaboration between singer/songwriter Kit Soden and his wife, violinist Aliza Thibodeau. Their breezy, often dense alt-folk rhythms seem to be nestled somewhere between the acoustic intimacy of Bowerbirds and the indie bombast of Arcade Fire. On their 2010 debut album Into the Silence, they brought together over 20 different backing musicians to achieve a grand, cathedral sound to pair with the calmer, more introspective moments. They’ve kept this sense of tonal contrast for their sophomore record Bridge of the Sun, bringing along the words of author Steven Erikson as well. Most of the album’s lyrics are derived from Erikson’s best-selling series, “The Malazon Book of the Fallen.”
The duo have just released the latest single, “Bridge of the Sun,” from their upcoming album, and with its’ waves of acoustic instrumentation and serpentine rhythms, Soden and Thibodeau have fully integrated her classical training with his folk upbringing. By allowing each other’s influences to interweave and bloom outward, “Bridge of the Sun” feels less like the forced coupling of personal preferences and more the unified statement of a band fully immersed in their own insular musical world.
Beats Per Minute is pleased to premiere the title track, “Bridge of the Sun,” from October Gold’s latest record.