Brisbane based four-piece Montpelier create pop rock with purpose and clarity. Their unique sound is a combination of soaring harmonies and warm melodies, sharp rhythms and a captivating pop sensibility. They inspire fans of Death Cab For Cutie, The Arcade Fire and Doves.
Montpelier recently released their debut self-titled EP in March 2010, that was recorded in the USA with producer Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Yves Klein Blue). So enthusiastic was Kevin about early demos, that it didn’t take much for the young indie-funded band to travel over to record a beautiful introduction to Montpelier’s songwriting depth and love of sonic beauty.
AIR charts, who do wonderful work for Australian independant music, recently wrote about us. We are humbled:
“Montpelier… timeless Australian indie-pop.
If I was a thoughtful, modern man and wanted to be a band with integrity and class (and I was a good singer and could write great music) then I’d probably record earnest songs about love with subtle string arrangements and slow building crescendos. I’d also set them to uncomplicated visually arresting film clips which are about love too. Wouldn’t you?
There’s something about Montpelier which to me smacks of class. The name of the band, the beautiful packaging of their EP, the unresolved nature of the love story in this film clip and their songwriting. There’s a subtlety there that tells me that they think hard about their music, their web presence and themselves. Big things I reckon, that’s what’s going to happen to Montpelier.”
Our first single from the EP was named single of the week in RAVE magazine too:
“Don’t shake that smile just yet. There’s another one to be had with another Brisbane group Montpelier – though their piano-indie lends itself to more of a contented sigh than a raucous party guffaw. The established acts Montpelier recall throughout this floating, dreamy, but still somehow grounded excursion are numerous – the pop sensibility of Ben Lee without the smugness, or maybe the cerebral self-awareness of The Panics without their occasional indulgent meanderings. These are big calls to make about a band so new that their eyes are still adjusting to the light, so truly the most startling thing about The Rafters is that it’s the group’s debut. It’s just so … confident? I’m scribbling their name down as the next ‘must see’ local act.’ – Simon Topper, Rave Magazine Single of the week.
Sincerely yours,
Montpelier
