Canopies

Track History
November 20, 2011 8:36pm
November 16, 2011 10:34am
November 12, 2011 4:25am
November 7, 2011 11:44pm
November 5, 2011 11:31am
November 3, 2011 2:36pm
October 30, 2011 10:33am
October 26, 2011 12:24am
October 21, 2011 3:32pm
October 17, 2011 11:34am
October 13, 2011 2:25am
October 8, 2011 8:33pm
October 4, 2011 2:48pm
September 30, 2011 7:36am
September 29, 2011 4:24pm
July 13, 2011 9:14pm
July 13, 2011 4:08pm
July 13, 2011 11:15am
July 13, 2011 7:08am - 88.9 Radio Milwaukee

When I contacted Canopies about featuring them on this site I asked them for what they might consider some of their influences; they divided these into two groups: musical and non-musical. The former showed a musically well-versed and (culturally) diverse band with the likes of Brian Eno, the Davids (Bowie and Byrne), Yellow Magic Orchestra and Fela Kuti as strong stepping-stones. The latter did nothing but help further that image, with influences including (but not limited to, as the band points out): photographs of spectacular wonders of nature, The X-Files (yes, the TV show), botany and sports. Curiously enough when listening through the band’s self-titled EP none of these influences seem all that crazy.

The trio from Milwaukee, WI sure knows how to write a good dance groove, something that becomes instantly apparent in the EP’s first track, “Rebels”, one of the highlights. The bouncy synths transport me to some underground dark area where there’s a raving party happening and, independent of my dancing skills (which are pretty limited to be honest) I’m out there giving it my all. There’s a pulsating bass synth that really carries the groove in the verses and leads to a huge chorus that must be a blast to sing live not only for the band, but also for the audience. There’s also something about the way the drums are mixed that reminds me of one of my favorite tracks from this year, Nerves Junior‘s “As Bright As Your Night Light”, which doesn’t really hurt.

Part of what makes Canopies interesting and appealing to me, as a prospective sound engineer, is also their approach to recording. The band actually recorded as much as they could through old analog gear (which might explain why the drums sound as good as they do). The wide array of sounds featured on the tracks (I count at least three distinct synth melodies on each track) made me wonder how that might reproduce to the live setting. The band, originally formed by multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Nolan Treolo, John Marston and drummer/percussionist Craig Leren, incorporate an additional guitarist and a keyboardist/percussionist for their live act, where they’re trying to see how long they can go without using a laptop on stage, an incredibly remarkable feat for a synth-pop band nowadays. They also describe their live shows as “a bit of musical chairs” as everyone in the band plays at least two instruments on stage (except for the drummer) which I’m sure adds a great dynamism to the shows.

This is definitely a band to watch for anyone that has enjoyed Cut Copy, M83 or Passion Pit, among many others. You can download the EP’s highlights “Rebels” and “Born To Your Device” below, but be sure to snatch up the rest of it over at their Bandcamp for whatever price you like (everyone loves free music but be nice and throw them a bone).

- Listen Before You Buy

This week on 414 Music, we finally got CANOPIES in studio.

I tried to book this band when I first took the afternoon shift. Canpoies came on the Milwaukee music scene like a silver Delorean. No one here at Radio Milwaukee saw this coming. They have a perfect balance of pop rock sensibility, with electro dance fun.

You can download their entire EP here on Bandcamp.

You can catch CANOPIES at the YELLOW PHONE MUSIC Conference, this Friday night at Moct.

- 88.9 Radio Milwaukee

Twin Sister has been blowing up lately. They released their debut full-length on Tuesday after two highly-acclaimed EP’s. Their beats are infectious, forcing your feet to move. The mixture of electronic aspects and Andrea Estella’s classic voice is a winning combination. Pitchfork can’t get enough of these guys, and lucky for us we can be in the same room as them for free in Madison on Monday night.

The band will stray from their tours with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Wild Beasts long enough to play the free show at The Sett at UW-Madison, sponsored by WUD Music. The show gets started at 9 p.m. with PM-reviewed Milwaukee band Canopies, who will make their Madison debut. Their debut EP, available for download at their Bandcamp, garnered an A- rating from AV Club Milwaukee. Their sound meshes perfectly with Twin Sister’s, which will provide a great opportunity for a fantastic local band to expand their fan base.

In case you haven’t been to The Sett yet, the new Union South is worth it in itself to make the trip out there. The new concert hall features a balcony, bar, and a chance to see all the new Union has to offer, which includes a bowling alley with big screen TV’s above the pins, a rock-climbing wall, and a Babcock ice cream stand (If you’ve never had Babcock ice cream, I feel sorry for you. We’re the Dairy State for a reason, and Babcock Hall is pretty much 98.87% of that reason). Check out the links below, along with Twin Sister’s new, haunting music video for “Kimmi in a Rice Field,” which recently got them Best New Track honors on Pitchfork. - Playground Misnomer

by Matt Wild July 7, 2011

Nothing beats a surprise, especially when it comes in the form of a fully realized, fully loaded new band. Take Milwaukee’s Canopies, for instance: On the band’s self-titled debut EP, the synth slingers burst out of the gate with five tracks of terrific, infectious electro-pop. It’s an album clearly indebted to a proto-new-wave past full of murky ’80s dance clubs, but still shot through with a spirit of post-millennial dance parties. It’s also one hell of an opening salvo.

John Marston and Nolan Treolo form the band’s core and, along with drummer Craig Leren, already seem to be a notch above the current chillwave high-water mark. The group’s songs are anything but gauzy, unfocused psychedelia. Lead-off track “Rebels” is effortlessly stuffed with dreamy, straight-up pop hooks, and “Strangers Glare” does well by a driving, insidiously catchy chorus. Elsewhere, some pronounced influences are given a fresh coat of paint. There’s a welcome hint of ’90s synth revivalists The Pulsars bubbling in the pitch-perfect “Warrior,” a song that casts Canopies’ poppier sensibilities in the best possible light. Meanwhile, album highlight “Born To Your Device” takes its cues from the pulsing foundation of Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s “Love Missile F1-11” and bends the tune into a whoozy, off-kilter dance track.

It’s hard to say if Canopies could possibly sustain this kind of momentum for an entire full-length album, or how the band’s sound might translate into a live setting. Questions of the future aside, this all-to-brief EP stands as a thrilling introduction to a wholly unexpected new talent.
The EP can be streamed or downloaded at the group’s website.
- The Onion AV Club

Milwaukee’s newest release is from electro-pop trio, Canopies, whose five-song EP is on par with the likeminded sounds of Cut Copy and Toro Y Moi — perfect for summer listening and already generating lots of excited press for their first single, “Rebels” (listen, below). Obscuresound.com enthuses that Canopies “will not remain elusive for long”. Playing together since 2009, multi-instrumentalists Nolan Treolo and John Marston joined up with drummer Craig Leren to make music loaded and hazed over with plenty of analog synths in an homage to ’80s dancefloor dreaminess. Canopies’ EP genuinely appeals to retro sounds, but also gives forth a new glimmer through its youthful energy and spirit that capably avoids accusation of simply being post-John Hughes fodder. Fans of local electro from Codebreaker, take note. - 91.7 WMSE Music News

It’s hard to believe July is already here. The mid-point of the year has arrived, and for many sites like this it marks a time to evaluate 2011's releases thus far and attempt to order them in some way. I consider doing so to be somewhat premature and unnecessary; I know of many albums the past few years that took several months to click, so why focus on past releases now? Instead, I tend to focus on relatively unknown acts this time of year. The first five tracks on June’s compilation feature wonderful artists that are far from being a household name… at the moment at least. Still, their songs speak for themselves in showcasing extreme talents that will introduce them all — from the infectious electro-pop of Canopies to the intricate folk-rock leanings of Warm Weather — to the spotlight, and deservedly so. These groups all have what it takes to be something great. As a bonus, look for many of them to be featured in the future on an excellent new site I’m working with, GroopEase.

After some familiar names with fresh sounds (Junior Boys, Bon Iver) the compilation returns to a bunch of new acts, for the most part. Although Shabazz Palaces feature hip-hop vets like Digable Planets’ Butterfly and Southern All Stars are Japanese best-sellers, their music fits extraordinarily well with this time of year and the abundance of new quality acts emerging lately. There’s no need to ignore the fresh new sounds of The Demos, The Overcoat, and The Stanley Blacks; they all sound creative and energetic, each with their own unique stylistic traits. Finishing the compilation up is The Trade Winds’ classic “New York’s a Lonely Town”, one of the many excellent tracks on the Beach Boys sound-alike compilation That’s Not Me: Best of the Beach Bastards. Between this compilation and that one, they should help you get through the sweltering days of summer. I know I say this often, but I believe this is one of the most jam-packed and consistently enjoyable OS compilations to date. Enjoy!

01. Canopies – Rebels (post)
02. The Wind – Hathor (post)
03. Warm Weather – I Only Know (post)
04. Ennui – Coconino (post)
05. The Elliots – When Evil Happens (post)
06. Junior Boys – Banana Ripple (post)
07. Bon Iver – Calgary (post)
08. The Demos – Meet at Night (post)
09. The Overcoat – Kid’s Bones (post)
10. Shabazz Palaces – An Echo From the Hosts That Profess Infinitum (post)
11. Southern All Stars – You (post)
12. Them Changes – Lie to Me (post)
13. Fenech-Soler – Lies (post)
14. Figurines – Every Week (post)
15. The Stanley Blacks – In Sight (post)
16. The Trade Winds – New York’s a Lonely Town (post) - Obscure Sound

Canopies are a fresh new band out of Milwaukee who have been making waves the last few weeks with their debut EP bursting with lively, energetic indie electro pop. Fans of MGMT and Cut Copy should immediately fall for the band's brand of like-minded indie dance grooves, glossy synths and soaring vocal harmonies. White the EP's shuttering opening track, "Rebels," is one that could see some massive blog love in the near-future, the band has succeeded with a well-executed release in a genre that can become pretty mundane in its current state. While Canopies have a keen ear to modern electronic sounds, they also give continued nods to '80s influences like Devo and other Kraut rock-minded groups like Kraftwerk. You can stream the band's brand new EP below and download the first single, "Rebels," for free. Check it. - Jukebox Breakdown

Tarik Moody | Jul 13 2011 - 3:00pm |

I have been checking out this site called GroopEase, which is a Groupon for artists and bands. The purpose of GroopEase is to make it easy to discover new music and artists and give one the ability to purchase their albums a discounted prices. GroopEase works very similar to Groupon, in that each day GroopEase features a new artist or band that includes reviews, bios, videos, and music. If you dig the music from the band, GroopEase gives you a set amount of time to purchase the deeply discounted album. GroopEase even offers one free download from each band.

Once you sign up for GroupEase, you will get a daily email of the current band and the album deal, just like Groupon. GroopEase select the bands based on submissions and suggestions and they also have an internal staff that scours the internet for new music.

The reason I’m writing about this site is because of today’s featured band. It is the Milwaukee band Canopies, who we featured on today’s New Music Wednesday. Ironic, isn’t it? I have to say Canopies to EP might be my favorite local release of the year so far. The folks at GroopEase wrote a very nice review of their EP. Here is an excerpt:

“Every song has its own identifiable personality, and I'll be damned if anyone could point out one weak measure, let alone one weak note throughout the album's entirety. "Strangers Glare" features some very respectable guitar work, in addition to all of the intricate textures. The group even picks up a few woodwinds for nothing more than a chaotic, "Kid A"-style resolve. The final song, "Summer Amnesia" evolves from what sounds like an old A.M. radio, tuning into some sort of vintage newscast. The bass and drums from the club next door, via filter effect, come creeping in, and the song is sent back into the 21st century. Canopies makes stellar music, and while I rep this, eagerly anticipating a full-length, it's shocking to me that you're only hearing of them now... though, I suppose that's kind of nice.”

You can purchase their EP, which is normally $5, for only $2. You have only two days left to get at the price and portions of the sales support the charity Empower Nepali Girls.

- 88.9 Radio Milwaukee

The completely unknown Canopies will not remain elusive for long. That much is easy to predict when listening to “Rebels”, a track that is bound to explode in the music blogosphere. On their name-your-price EP (download it here), the Milwaukee-based trio have incorporated their love for ’80s synth-pop with recent indie-rock innovations, resulting in an infectious and danceable tour-de-force that should consummately satisfy electronic-minded audiences. The demographic needs something worthwhile to catch their attention, as the surplus of great ’80s throwback dance-pop albums is abundant this year and expectations are high for approval. Recent albums like Ford & Lopatin’s Channel Pressure, Cut Copy’s Zonoscope, and Toro Y Moi’s Underneath the Pine blend nostalgic components differently, but all triumph in crafting a style that borrows retrospective bliss rather than relying on it. These are not glamorized rip-offs of the past. Instead, they apply the past’s best within an modern revised formula; rather than relying entire on an imitation, these artists present a theme consistent with innovation and influence on equal pacing. Canopies are simply the latest, greatest, and most obscure (currently) to accomplish it.

Nolan Treolo, John Marston, and Craig Leren have an astute grasp of how hooks work in electronic pop. Many artists could say the same, but their results are often one-trick ponies with little dramatic flair. Canopies are much different, and it makes them stand up. “Rebels” has a plethora of moments that can send chills up your spine… or down to feet. Bass warbles and a fuzzy synth pad graciously open up it, as the words “raise your fist in the air, isn’t a scare?” are spoken. The slippery bass line alternates between two notes before a quickly intricate swipe concludes each verse, which is resoundingly effective when the icy key tremolo emerges (“Danny load your gun”). The chorus is then pushed forward with natural cohesion, anthemic to the point of fist-raising righteousness but not stuffy in the overly tributary way many electro-pop artists are, primarily in struggling toward their next hook. This format continues enjoyably for another minute, before the track’s triumphant conclusion. A bustling synth arpeggio gives the go-ahead for Marielle Allschwang’s vocals, full of both operatic and sensual range, à la Shara Nelson’s empowering performance on Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy“.

While “Rebels” is a track destined for popularity, that is not to say the EP’s other tracks are in any way inferior. Actually, they tend to showcase the band’s ambition and range in a broader scope. “Warrior” packs a strong punch as well, being even more of a throwback than “Rebels”. While the synth stabs during the chorus begins to resemble recent psych-pop acts like MGMT, the verses are pure ’80s bliss. The gauzy stretch of synths brings to mind names like Devo and Gary Numan. Yet, as mentioned earlier, the throwbacks are neither excessive nor daunting. The gradually added guitar licks help solidify this point, as does the percussion-led finale. “Strangers Glare” is polished and elegant, filled with stadium-sized hooks that steadily unveil themselves. An immediate comparison is to Talk Talk’s earlier synth-pop work, from the warmly sonorous synth pads to the key-led twinkle at the chorus’ end. The EP’s other two tracks, “Born to Your Device” and “Summer Amnesia”, are just as good; the latter’s energy is reminiscent of post-punk, especially if it was somehow infused into Takashi Tateishi’s Mega Man soundtrack. To close it off, The bouncy Tough Alliance-like pop “Summer Amnesia” is a perfect end to an outstanding debut.

It’s truly a demonstration of character when an unknown band offers their material for free. Especially when it’s a band this good. If you have some cash to spare and enjoy the EP, do these guys a favor and toss a few dollars their way. Regardless of what you do though, download the EP. It left me extremely impressed, and I feel it will do the same to most listeners. - Obscure Sound