Miracle Fortress is a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. The band's studio work is primarily a solo, project of songwriter Graham Van Pelt,[1] who is accompanied by the rest of the band during live shows.

Miracle Fortress
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
GenresIndie rock
Years active2005 (2005)–present
LabelsSecret City, Rough Trade
MembersGraham Van Pelt
Adam Waito
Jessie Stein

Band history

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Van Pelt, a member of the band Think About Life, recorded all of the music himself for five songs, and then self-released an EP, Watery Grave. In 2007, he released a debut album Five Roses under the name Miracle Fortress, on Secret City Records.[2][3] The album received positive reviews,[4] and was included on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize,[5] which was ultimately won by Patrick Watson.[6][7] Van Pelt recruited drummer 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.[8] This group made a cross-Canada tour in 2007.[9] Nathan Ward, Adam Waito and Jessie Stein also took part in some of the shows.[10]

The style of the band's single, "Maybe Lately", was compared by critics to that of the Beach Boys.[11][12]

Miracle Fortress' third album, Was I the Wave? was released in April 2011.[1] It was musically quite different from the previous album, with simpler instrumentation and more rhythm.[5][13] The album won a GAMIQ Award for Electronic Album of the Year.[14]

In 2014, Van Pelt continues to release music as Miracle Fortress.[15]

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Miracle Fortress Returns with Sophomore LP, Readies Canadian Dates with Shad". CBC News. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  2. ^ "A Completely Biased Ranking of the 60 Best Canadian Indie Rock Songs of the 00s Part II". Vice, Cam Lindsay Apr 10 2017
  3. ^ Jennifer Maerz (July 2007). "Miracle Fortress Five Roses". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC: 98–. ISSN 0886-3032.
  4. ^ "Miracle Fortress - Five Roses". ClickMusic, Colleen Newbanks
  5. ^ a b "Miracle Fortress Solitary Man". Exclaim, By Cam Lindsay Apr 24, 2011
  6. ^ "Arcade Fire, Feist on Polaris short list". CBC News. July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
  7. ^ Cassandra Szlarski (July 10, 2007). "Feist, Fire get Polaris noms". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ " Miracle Fortress". AllMusic Biography by Margaret Reges
  9. ^ "One-man band takes friends for a ride; Graham Van Pelt's acclaimed Miracle Fortress assembles an indie team for cross-Canada tour" . Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. Raju Mudhar Jun 21, 2007 Page: E.9
  10. ^ "Miracle Fortress believes in self"[usurped]. Jam! Music, July 11, 2007. by Allan Wigney, Sun Media
  11. ^ "Miracle Fortress - Maybe Lately Continue the Beach Boys fascination". Clash Music, 10 · 04 · 2008
  12. ^ "Miracle Fortress, Five Roses". The Guardian, David Peschek 20 July 2007
  13. ^ "Miracle Fortress Was I the Wave?". Pitchfork, David Bevan July 13, 2011
  14. ^ "Galaxie cleans up at the 2011 GAMIQ Awards". Montreal Gazette, November 14, 2011
  15. ^ "Miracle Fortress "Even in America". Exclaim!, By Alex Hudson Sep 16, 2014
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