Miracle Fortress is the handiwork of Montreal artist/producer Graham Van Pelt, who achieved nothing short of greatness with his critically renowned and beloved 2007 album, Five Roses, and stays right in stride with his new album, Was I the Wave? On Miracle Fortress' recordings, Van Pelt is the sole artist responsible for writing, performing, composing, arranging, producing and engineering. That he undertakes all of these roles in the creation of an album is impressive. Lesser musicians would sacrifice craftsmanship with such a unilateral process. That Van Pelt has created two electronic pop albums with truly uncommon beauty with such an approach is a revelation.

Miracle Fortress is warm, electronic pop with shades of ambient flourishes. It is electronic music for music lovers still left wanting for the merits of electronic music. Van Pelt crafts songs with lyrics
alternately buoyant and melancholic. They are songs more aptly suited for moments of introspection and newfound clarity than they are suited for throbbing dance floors. Van Pelt’s vocals oscillate between the crisp, brainy delivery of David Byrne and the charming, floating style of Brian Wilson. Just as his vocal influences dance between 80’s arty electro-pop and sunny 60’s harmonies, Van Pelt’s musical palette culls from the same influences. Featuring electronic blips and the occasional propulsive drum machine rhythm dancing alongside the gentle colors of a sonic kaleidoscope, Van Pelt has one foot squarely rooted in 80’s synth-pop in the likes of New Order and Brian Eno, while the other foot seems to be toeing a shoreline as the surf breaks towards coastal sands and majestic precipices.

Miracle Fortress’ new album, Was I the Wave? is available now courtesy of Secret City Records. If you’re suffering in these dog days of one of the most unbearable summers in memory, treat yourself to Was I the Wave? It is certain to be the summer soundtrack for fans in search of superb, intelligent for afternoons under the open sky or blissful nights of endless possibilities.

MP3 Downloads
Miracle Fortress - Miscalculations
Miracle Fortress - Tracers

Recorded and Mixed by Jeff DuPont
Filmed and Edited by Dan Dark
Written by Justin Wesley