When you write about music, even if you’re not a big shot, you get a lot of music recommendations sent your way. You try to give them all a listen and usually will hear a lot of great stuff and a lot of not so great stuff. But every now and then you get introduced to something that gives you that feeling that this band is different, this band has it. The latest band to make it onto this small list is Rooftop Runners.
Rooftop Runners is Benedikt and Tobias MacIsaac, a Canadian brother duo now residing in Berlin. The geographic upheaval, which began when they toured Europe with dance companies as choreographer and dancer respectively, has helped bring their unique voice to the surface and they have embraced it fully.
I was shown a couple of the songs from their 4 song EP while hanging out at a friend’s place and it was enough to make me snap to attention and actually put down my iPhone.
The first song I heard was Bang Bang, a sexy and menacing trippy tune that expands as it plays until you feel completely surrounded by it. This was a sound unlike anything I had heard before; innovative and sneaky. Rooftop Runners have created a sound that walks all over your preconceived notions with the sinewy certainty of a cat that just got away with something. This was followed by Streets, another surprising number with a fearless vocal delivery that wraps around the candid depth of the lyrics beautifully. This is a band that is not to be missed. With a sound like this, big things are coming.
The EP has yielded two singles and two videos. One which was recently released for Streets. Check it out:
The other video, for Bang Bang, just filmed in December and should be released soon. The brothers are working on their debut full-length album which is due out this year all the while gearing up for a UK/Germany tour which begins in Feb. Dates are below.
Chemniz – Subway to Peter – Fri, February 3, 2012
Stuttgart – zwölfzehn – Mon, February 6, 2012
Chemniz – Exi – Fri, February 10, 2012
Germany – Osnabrück – Wed, February 15, 2012
London – Dublin Castle – Mon, February 20, 2012
London – The Goodship – Wed, February 22, 2012
Cardiff – Buffalo Bar – Fri, February 24, 2012
Manchester - Night and Day Cafe – Thu, March 1, 2012
Hamburg – Mobile Blues Blub – Sat, March 3, 2012
Go to Rooftop Runners website for more info.
