Considered one of the leading contemporary Canadian indie rock bands, combining sonic innovation and melodic sensibility, The Besnard Lakes was formed in Montreal, Quebec, in 2003, around the couple Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas. Already involved in the local music scene, the founding members set out to create atmospheric, cinematic compositions, blending shoegaze, post-rock and dream pop influences. They were soon joined by Kevin Laing on drums and Richard White on guitar, completing the line-up. Their debut album, Volume 1 (2003), received critical acclaim in Canada, but it was with The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse (2007), their first album for the Jagjaguwar label, that they really made a name for themselves, thanks to their dense arrangements and expansive sound. They continued their sonic exploration with The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (2010), which confirmed their reputation for rich, immersive musical textures, and Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO (2013), acclaimed for its ability to marry ethereal melodies and emotional power. In 2016, after expanding its ranks with new members Sheenah Ko (keyboards) and Robbie MacArthur (guitar), the band continued in the neo-psychedelic vein with A Coliseum Complex Museum, followed by The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings (2021). Nominated three times for the Polaris Music Prize, The Besnard Lakes has yet to win a trophy. In 2025, The Besnard Lakes Are the Ghost Nation is released as the seventh studio album.
