Brian Borcherdt Brings New Band Fields of Fur to Canadian Music Fest

Most times that Brian Borcherdt is on stage he's got a strange gizmo in his hands. Best known as frontman for dance party improvisers Holy F---, he's made career out of playing scavenged analog gear and random noisemaking machines.

But last night at Canadian Music Week / Canadian Music Fest he got to strap on his first love – the electric guitar -- with his brand-new band, Fields of Fur.

The trio of Borcherdt on guitar and vocals, Anna Edwards (of the band Foxfire, also Borcherdt's fiancée) on bass and drummer Michael LeBlanc performed their third public show at the Garrison club to a full house of curious onlookers.

Tentatively beginning with a shoegazing number reminiscent of Borcherdt's introspective, acoustic solo material, the trio gradually built up to a sound combining post-punk rhythms with ethereal fuzz, dipping at times into a dark Velvet Underground territory.

And if the songs weren't exactly radio hits in waiting, the sonic atmospheres were dreamy and full of the playfulness we've come to love from Holy F---. It was also fun to watch Borcherdt embrace his inner rock star in a way not seen since he was touring with By Divine Right, plus singing high above his usual whisper.

Ultimately, the most amazing thing about the Fields of Fur set is that it was the only place to sample this new project. Unlike every other band at Canadian Music Week's CMF festival, they've got no tracks available online and no future gigs announced.

For once, you actually had to be there.