In Medias Res
Filed Under: Indie
It Was Warm and Sunny When We First Set Out: the story of a band and their new album.Formed over a decade ago, Vancouver-based In Medias Res has risen from a fledgling act full of potential to one of the most lauded indie-rock bands in the city, whose brand new release has them poised to reach new heights. Three years ago, after touring extensively, selling out multiple pressings of their Intimacy EP and debut album Of What Was, and establishing a passionate fan base across the country, the band went into the studio. Re-teaming with esteemed local producer Jonathan Anderson (Aidan Knight, Stablio), the quartet intended to best their previous effort, which had been met with glowing reviews and sales of over 1,500 copies. But then life intervened. Rumors spread of the band's demise as the album was slow in coming; meanwhile, the band rewrote, rerecorded, and remixed. In the assured hands of John Carswell and John Collins (Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers) the album finally found its form: It Was Warm and Sunny When We First Set Out, a new release by In Medias Res.
Digitally released on January 4th and already garnering significant buzz––including its ranking as the number one seller on bandcamp with over 6,000 total plays to date––the album will be available for vinyl release in March, with a national tour to follow in support. Though it synthesizes the band's many influences, from Radiohead to Talk Talk and from TV on the Radio to Destroyer, it is nevertheless a wholly original work. Beginning with the unholy squall of The Final Flight of the Bees and the rousing anthem of This Could Be The One, the album traces a narrative from the heights to the depths, and back again. While each of the tracks are carefully crafted, the slow-burning Slow Motion Clarity and the sweetly melodic Tonight I Am New are particularly indicative of the band's strengths of creativity, diversity, and the rare gift of sounding more than the sum of its parts. The band had made its name with shows full of this kind of charged virtuosity in sold out venues throughout the city; this is the first time it has been captured in the studio, and with such impressive results.
Recently, the band has taken on a new shape, with principle songwriter and frontman Andrew Lee striking out on tour himself with a rotating cast of players. This new formation has been met with great success, and allows for exciting new interpretations of the music.
Andrew Lee lives and works in Vancouver.
Upcoming Performances
Sorry In Medias Res has no upcoming performances
Past Performances
Vancouver-based In Medias Res has risen from a fledgling act full of potential to one of the most lauded indie-rock bands in the city
