WINDOWS '78
John Lucas: guitar, backing vocals
Michael Nathanson: drums, percussion, glockenspiel
Craig Rogers: guitar, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Mark Rogers: lead vocals, bass

It seems inevitable that The Window Seat, the debut album from Vancouver’s Windows ’78, will be labelled as “space rock”. The disc’s nine songs showcase the band’s ability to craft a rich, evocative sound that weaves together melodic guitar lines, subtly deployed electronic loops, and masterful drumming. At the album’s heart is a trilogy of songs—“Opportunity”, “Spirit”, and “Pathfinder”—that tell the stories of robotic rovers exploring Mars. These songs can be appreciated purely on the level of scientific speculation: If the rovers had thoughts and feelings of their own, what would they tell us about themselves and their experiences? At the same time, the trilogy poses a few metaphorical questions: Are the robots us? Do the incalculable reaches of space and the barren dunes of Mars represent the psychological landscapes of solitary humans? Maybe these songs aren’t really about outer space after all…

“Through media and modern technology, people have become more complacent, and more accepting of isolation,” says singer/lyricist Mark Rogers, a former member of the Vancouver indie-rock act Softcore. “This is an album about cities, small spaces and loneliness.”

Joining Mark on the journey are his cousin Craig Rogers; guitarist John Lucas (also a member of Hinterland); and drummer Michael Nathanson, who has played with more bands than even he can remember, including a stint with Craig in Evil Roy Slade. Producer Caleb Stull helped the four musicians shape the sound of The Window Seat, which ranges from the opening ambiance of “PAL” to the blistering feedback of “Roll Your Eyes”, from the loop-driven pulse of “Pathfinder” (featuring programming by digital guru Mihai Wilson) to the harmony-laced grandeur of “You Wonder Why”.

“It was important to us that the album be one that the listener wants to listen to, from start to finish,” Craig notes. “There are certain elements that were intentionally used to tie the album together. The use of dynamics, EBow, violin, certain keyboard sounds, and loops help to unify the songs and make them feel like they belong together. The songs all have a unique feel to them, but still work together as a whole.”



ELSEWHERE:
Official Web site
Windows '78 on MySpace

TITLES AVAILABLE ON SUBMERGED RECORDS