KEVIN MENZ
Associate News Editor

When Saskatoon band We Were Lovers lost three of its members last year it lost some of its raw rock energy and it appeared that the project would call it quits. What resulted, however, was one of the most unique and versatile sounds Saskatoon has heard in recent memory.

The two remaining members Ash Lamothe and Elsa Gebremichael, while still recording with live instruments, completely reworked the band’s sound into a mesh of electronic, experimental and pop, with a core base of rock guitar. They’re what the ’80s would have sounded like had it been done right.

The drums — the only instrument on the upcoming EP to be recorded by a guest artist — were tracked by Jordan Trask of Saskatoon’s only German techno dance group 911 Turbo. This gives the album an immense dance atmosphere.

Unlike Trask’s 911 Turbo project, however, the dance elements of We Were Lovers are toned down and relaxed, allowing them to delve back and forth between the dance-party genre and the dreamy feel of trance-rock.

In fact, the band recorded their EP in New York City with producer Chris Coady, who has worked with such dance-rock saviours as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV on the Radio.

Lamothe’s guitar riffs, while providing the music with a certain rock flare, do not overwhelm like the guitar tends to in most dance-rock bands. Rather, his guitar balances nicely with the electronic percussion resulting in an extremely unique sound for both the dance and rock genres.

The synthesizer overarches their sound with a trance-like feel and is complimented perfectly by Gebremichael’s vocals.

While her vocals do not utilize the same range as seen in some of her previous rock projects, they exemplify the harmonized sound of the band: no single sound — guitar, synth, drums or voice — dominates the band at any given moment.

Although the duo of Lamothe and Gebremichael sometimes perform with a live band, their best performances seem to be when it is just the two members on stage.

“When we’re not playing with a live band our sound has more of an electro feel as digital elements such as programmed beats and sequences are involved and combined with our live guitar and synth,” said Gebremichael.

Even though their original rock energy has been reworked into an electronic sound, the new dynamic between the remaining two members is the strongest We Were Lovers has ever been.

This new energy is exemplified with the EP’s two remixed tracks from local Saskatoon DJs Ricky Rock and Quadrant Khan. These two remixes are the most danceable tracks on the albums and with Quadrant Khan opening for a majority of their upcoming shows across Eastern Canada, the band’s energetic performance will likely be pushed to a new level.

Don’t worry, however, the band kicks off their tour with an album release show on Oct. 9 at Amigos in Saskatoon.

Oh, and for the question you are all wondering, in spite of the band’s name they refused to comment on their relationship status! Sorry, you sex-monkeys.

We Were Lovers play Amigos Cantina Oct. 9