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Magnetic north
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“It’s quite a contrast between Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, and Boreus, the snow scorpionfly from Ontario,” says Bill Hesselink, explaining the name and dynamic of his new band. “You know the way a great Canadian winter might be cold and ominous, but at the same time serene and really beautiful? I’m hoping that [the music] has both of those elements. It’s those contrasts in art and music that keep me interested.” A biologist by day, Hesselink has professional expertise in Canada’s indigenous species, particularly those native to the north. A drummer and composer by night, he works with a number of musicians from the circle that formed around LABprojects, a onetime monthly improv happening at O Patro Vys. Following the dissolution of his primary band, People for Audio, with whom he relocated to Montreal from Victoria five years ago, Hesselink (who also plays with Snailhouse) teamed up with members of Torngat, the Besnard Lakes, Sevens Project, Mobius, Moondata and Sam Shalabi’s band—namely Mathieu Charbonneau, Peter X, Richard White, Jason Sharp and Joshua Zubot—to start something new. “It’s in the spirit of a lot of great bands of the ’70s, like the Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Crimson,” he says, “but there are also elements of free jazz that keep it outside of more standard post-rock ideas.” Hesselink initially spearheaded the compositions, but as ice was broken and work progressed, collaboration came naturally. “We’re fortunate ’cause everybody in the project is a really strong composer. I’m just amazed sometimes by how quickly material is generated as ideas get thrown around.” Boreus makes its live debut tonight, and due to everyone’s other musical commitments, it will be a rare opportunity to see them in action. But Hesselink is confident that they have a future together. “We’re all really dedicated to the music community here, so we’ll certainly record and play more shows. I see this as the kind of relationship that can last over a long period of time because everybody is a lifer musician, and the music is the type that can age, which is important.” WITH MILES PERKIN AT CASA DEL |
