Miracle Fortress
Encyclopedia
Miracle Fortress is a Canadian
indie rock
band based in Montreal
. The band is primarily a project of songwriter
Graham Van Pelt. Van Pelt also a member of Think About Life
.
, Watery Grave
, in 2005. In 2007, the band released its debut album Five Roses
on Secret City Records
. On July 10, 2007, Five Roses was revealed as being on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
, which was ultimately won by Patrick Watson and their album Close to Paradise
.
Miracle Fortress' third album, Was I the Wave? was released on 26 April 2011.
Jordan Robson-Cramer of Sunset Rubdown
and Magic Weapon
, guitarist
Jessie Stein of SS Cardiacs
and The Luyas
, and keyboardist Adam Waito of Telefauna to adapt Five Roses into a live show. For live performances, the other members of Miracle Fortress are:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The band is primarily a project of songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Graham Van Pelt. Van Pelt also a member of Think About Life
Think About Life
Think About Life is an indie rock band from Montreal, Québec, Canada, formed in 2005 by drummer Matt Shane and keyboardist Graham Van Pelt.Think About Life's third member, vocalist Martin Cesar, also records and performs as Dishwasher. He has released a CD-R on Pink Triforce Tapes...
.
Band history
The band self-released a five-song EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Watery Grave
Watery Grave
Watery Grave is the third historical mystery novel about Sir John Fielding by Bruce Alexander.-Plot summary:When the captain of a British warship falls overboard and drowns, a Naval court martial is convened to investigate a charge of murder. Sir John is petitioned by an old friend to aid in the...
, in 2005. In 2007, the band released its debut album Five Roses
Five Roses
Five Roses is the first album by Miracle Fortress, released on May 22, 2007. On July 10, 2007, the shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize was revealed. Five Roses was announced as a finalist, alongside such other acts as Arcade Fire, Julie Doiron, and Chad VanGaalen...
on Secret City Records
Secret City Records
Secret City Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded in 2006 by Andrew Rose and Justin West, originally as sublabel of Justin Time Records. It became fully independent in late 2008....
. On July 10, 2007, Five Roses was revealed as being on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label...
, which was ultimately won by Patrick Watson and their album Close to Paradise
Close to Paradise
Close to Paradise is the second album by Patrick Watson, released on September 26, 2006. On September 24, 2007, the album won the Polaris Music Prize, after reaching the finals alongside such other albums as Neon Bible , Ashtray Rock , Woke Myself Up , and The Reminder .- Track listing :# "Close to...
.
Miracle Fortress' third album, Was I the Wave? was released on 26 April 2011.
Band members
While Miracle Fortress is primarily Van Pelt's project, he has other performers for live shows. In 2007, Van Pelt recruited drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Jordan Robson-Cramer of Sunset Rubdown
Sunset Rubdown
Sunset Rubdown is an art rock band from Montreal, Canada. The band began as a solo project for Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade, who released his debut, Snake's Got a Leg, in early 2005...
and Magic Weapon
Magic Weapon
Magic Weapon is an indie rock group based out of Montreal, Canada, fronted by multi-instrumentalist Jordan Robson-Cramer, who also is a member of Sunset Rubdown and former member of Miracle Fortress.-Overview:...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Jessie Stein of SS Cardiacs
SS Cardiacs
SS Cardiacs was a Canadian indie rock band, briefly active in the early 2000s.First formed in 2004 by Jessie Stein, Andy Lloyd and Dana Snell, the band released its sole album, Fear the Love, on Blocks in 2005. Stein's brother, José Miguel Contreras of By Divine Right, also participated in the...
and The Luyas
The Luyas
The Luyas are a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2006 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-History:The Luyas did their first live performance in December 2006...
, and keyboardist Adam Waito of Telefauna to adapt Five Roses into a live show. For live performances, the other members of Miracle Fortress are:
- Nathan Ward
- Adam Waito
- Jessie Stein
Discography
- Watery Grave EPWatery Grave EPThe Watery Grave EP was Graham Van Pelt's first release under his solo project Miracle Fortress. The self-released 5 song EP was recorded in 2005 at Friendship Cove, a recording studio/indie rock venue owned by Van Pelt and fellow friend Jack Dylan...
(2005, self-released) - Have You Seen In Your Dreams 12" (2007, Secret City RecordsSecret City RecordsSecret City Records is a Canadian independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded in 2006 by Andrew Rose and Justin West, originally as sublabel of Justin Time Records. It became fully independent in late 2008....
, Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
) - Five RosesFive RosesFive Roses is the first album by Miracle Fortress, released on May 22, 2007. On July 10, 2007, the shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize was revealed. Five Roses was announced as a finalist, alongside such other acts as Arcade Fire, Julie Doiron, and Chad VanGaalen...
(2007, Secret City Records) - Maybe Lately 7" (2008, Rough Trade Records)
- Was I the Wave?Was I the Wave?Was I the Wave? is the second studio album by Miracle Fortress, released on April 26, 2011. The album departs from the indie rock of Five Roses, and is instead more of an electronic offering. As with Five Roses, all songs were composed, arranged, performed, produced, and engineered by Graham Van Pelt...
(2011, Secret City Records)