Courtney Wing
Lush, epic and surrounded by mystic beauty, Bouquet of Might and Fury, the third album by Courtney Wing, reveals a strong sensitivity towards the human condition and an extraordinary portrayal of the musician and his devotion to his art. Available now on Proxenett Records, Bouquet of Might and Fury unleashes a musical universe of communion in which many of the artist’s opposing sides emerge in tender force.
After the release of two albums, (For The Good Times, 2001 & Starlight Shuffle, 2005) Courtney Wing found himself discouraged by the music industry and the deep roots it had in his surrounding. In the midst of his low, the CBC contacted Wing and invited him to perform for the program Canada Live during the summer of 2008. Thrilled by the offer, Courtney dedicated himself to the project, recruiting a new cast of musicians, including Sage Reynolds on double bass (Amon Tobin), Bruce Cawdron on percussion (Godspeed! You Black Emperor), Stef Schneider on drums (Bell Orchestre), and a 15-piece opera collective called Liederwolfe. Amazed by the recorded result of Wing’s performance, the producers of Canada Live chose to feature his performance on CBC’s homepage and broadcast the entire recording across the country on numerous occasions. High appraise and national buzz followed immediately. In response, Wing decided to compromise his initial plan to record a solo record and instead embraced his newly acquired team and tackled a much larger production. The end result is a ‘symphonic folk’ masterpiece that embodies the creative forces of over 30 musicians.
Courtney Wing doesn’t read music, he never studied it, the man belongs in the other category, the one where people eat, drink and sleep music 24/7. Being an “unprofessional” musician never stopped Courtney from composing, performing, and recording many of the instruments on the album.
Bouquet of Might and Fury invites the listener into an extraordinary indie-folk universe where a mighty barrage of choral Opera singers lilt amidst a larger-than-life, yet perfectly sculpted, orchestral background that is at times gentle, and other times fierce and grand. The title of the album and most of the lyrics refer to the concept of contrast. It visits the notions of social disillusionment, the perils of insincere kindness, calm over devastation, and most true to the album’s premise is the notion of love, and the rise and fall of it - a theme that played itself out during Wing’s song crafting process. Courtney tells us: When something negative happens, inevitably something positive emerges. We are not always aware of it, but balance tends to plays itself out.
Press quotes
[...] dans les beautés baroques et théâtrales des très belles chansons de Courtney Wing : des Belle Orchestre ou des Godpseed étant planqué dans les recoins rococos de ces morceaux ambitieux, le projet étant au croisement étrange entre opéra, pop et soul, la chose ne pouvait que nous plaire a priori. Ce qu’elle a fait, a posteriori –beaucoup, même.
Les Inrocks, Critique M pour Montréal novembre 2010
Courtney Wing’s lush orchestral arrangements were a highlight.
Prefixmag.com, M for Montreal review November 2010
Le talentueux songwriter y foule la poussière d'une americana oubliée, d'une folk décharnée comme on marcherait au milieu d'un village fantôme.
Damien Baumal, Longueur d'Ondes, avril 2010
With a ten-piece chorus and half a symphony behind him, Montreal musician Courtney Wing has created an album that dazzles with its ambition and opulence.
Rachel Sanders, Exclaim!, February 2010
Impossible de dire exactement pourquoi, mais je ressens à l'écoute du troisième album du Montréalais d'adoption Courtney Wing (né à Vancouver) ce que je ressentais en écoutant Funeral d'Arcade Fire.
Marie-Christine Blais, La Presse, Février 2010
Wing’s got quite the toolbox for the task.
Rupert Bottenberg, Mirror, February 2010
"The Cruel Of Fair," the excellent lead-off track from Courtney Wing's third album is everything a good song should be — complex but instantly accessible, catchy as all hell, but impossible to tire of.
Erik Missio, ChartAttack, February 2010
Montreal’s Courtney Wing is known for his expansive musicality, including enough instruments, techniques and vocal styles on his records to span several cultures and musical genres. With this arsenal, he creates folky, climactic pop that’s often heavy on the string section. For his NXNE performance, Wing brought along a contingent of opera singers, lending even more drama and soulfulness to his orchestral material.
Graham Silnicki, AndPOP, June 29, 2008
Secret bien gardé de la scène locale, Courtney Wing est en voie de rayonner à plus grande échelle, et son ambitieux concert présenté cette semaine pourrait bien lui servir de tremplin. [...] Outre cette chorale, baptisée Liederwolfe, le musicien a aussi recruté le bassiste Sage Reynolds (Amon Tobin), la violoniste Brigitte Dajczer (Les Gitans de Sarajevo), le claviériste Jeff Louch (The Royal Mountain Band) et les percussionnistes Bruce Cawdron (Godspeed! You Black Emperor) et Stef Shneider (Bell Orchestre). De quoi reproduire avec justesse la fantaisie singulière de son répertoire luxuriant.
Olivier Robillard Laveaux, Voir , 21 mai 2008
Montreal musician Courtney Wing’s latest project can be described as the creation of an entirely new genre. He calls it “symphonic choral folk,” and it’s a combination of stripped down, soulful folk music with a 10-member, classically trained choir.
Al Kratina, The Gazette, June 14, 2008
Important shows
• Pop Montreal
• SXSW
• NXNE
• The North American Folk Alliance
• New Music West
• The Indie Arts Festival
• The Freedom Festival
• The Edge of the World Festival