Tag Archive for: Fake Palms

FAKE PALMS // HEAVY PARANOIA (EP) WAVELENGTH, FADER, STEREOGUM, NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS, VICE, EXCLAIM!

NEW! FAKE PALMS “Heavy Paranoia” EP is now available on Hand Drawn Dracula worldwide and accompanied by a “a nightmare for candy lovers everywhere” (FADER) for “Holiday,” directed by Allison Johnston.

“Fake Palms is an underground Toronto “supergroup” that is steadily clawing their way to the surface of attention. Made up of Michael Le Riche, Simone Tisshaw-Baril (Slim Twig, US Girls, The Highest Order), Kyle Connolly (Wish, The Seams), and Patrick Marshall (Burning Love), their music creates a wall of sound that houses melodies that’ll keep you humming all day long. Wavelength’s Devin Calow tracked down Mr. Le Riche to learn more than he expected to ever know about the King of Rock’n’Roll.” – Devin Calow / WAVELENGTH INTERVIEW

“shimmery dream pop punk” – VICE

“a more polished – bass-driven punk” – STEREOGUM

“hazy alt-pop – a nightmare for candy lovers everywhere” – FADER


STREAM : TIDAL / APPLE / SPOTIFY / BANDCAMP / VARIOUS

FAKE PALMS // SELF TITLED 2015 DEBUT ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE ON HAND DRAWN DRACULA // PITCHFORK, FADER, BROOKLYN VEGAN, NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS, EXCLAIM!

FAKE PALMS‘ self-tiled 2015 debut album is now available on Hand Drawn Dracula Records!

Toronto band Fake Palms, came together as a collection of bedroom demos recorded with a broken drum machine by Michael le Riche in 2011, the project morphed into a band in early 2015 when le Riche brought together longtime contributors of Toronto’s music scene. In keeping with Fake Palms’ stripped back bedroom origins, the group value simplicity and directness. For le Riche this approach is almost an idealogical dictate, “our intention is to do the most we can with the limitations we put on ourselves,” he says, “no backing tracks, no samples etc. We want to make music that is an honest representation of the four of us in a room at that time.” (via NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS)

“glitters with suspense” – FADER

“Fuzzy and grungy, bombastic and loud, Fake Palms are melodious tune makers with traditional pop sensibilities living in a world of overheated amps” – 8/10 EXCLAIM

“one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the thriving Toronto music scene” – NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS

“If you dig dark post-punk you should definitely check it out” – BROOKLYN VEGAN

“a veritable Toronto underground supergroup” – PITCHFORK


Stream FAKE PALMS releases on all platforms : HERE
2015 Fake Palms – BANDCAMP / STREAM
2022 Lemons – BANDCAMP / STREAM

FAKE PALMS // FLAGS (VIDEO) LEMONS (ALBUM) BROOKLYN VEGAN, CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE, CBC RADIO3, BANDCAMP DAILY, EXCLAIM!, TALKHOUSE, THE LINE OF BEST FIT, KEXP

FAKE PALMS, the project of Toronto-based musician, Michael le Riche is today sharing the new single “Flags” and video (directed by Justis Krar) as the final advance preview of his new record, Lemons which is set for release via Hand Drawn Dracula on Friday, September 16.

“Flags” arrives as the final preview of the new record which, as a full piece, circles around outsider-pop, post-punk and the sound of early/mid-naughts British indie-rock. Swirling guitars bounce off of each other circling around fervent percussion before shifting into something harder-hitting across the chorus. Speaking about the single, Michael says: “‘Flags’ is a song about having to find where you fit within the machinery. Is it comfortable? Is it against what your beliefs are? Do you want to do it or do you have to do it? Do you feel like a traitor? Or are you scared at how much you actually enjoy it? We all seem to have these specters we answer to, these things we rally for or against subconsciously. This is kind of about what happens when you are forced to stare your decisions in the face.”

The new record evolves from the 00’s angular guitar rhythms that defined the post-punk foundations of Fake Palms’ first two releases. Lemons switches out some of the irregular time-signatures of 70’s college rock and first-take recording approach, this time moving with confidence into more dissonant yet accessible directions of brighter melodic structures.

Michael le Riche called upon a veritable who’s who of Toronto indie-dom for Lemons, drawing from the ranks of Dilly Dally (Ben Reinhartz), Ducks Ltd (Evan Lewis), Sauna (Braeden Craig), and Twist (Laura Hermiston). Taking to Candle Recording studio with long-time contributor, co-producer, and engineer Josh Korody (Breeze, Beliefs), the songwriting dove headlong even further into dream-math-punk sensibilities.


“The hooks are sharp, the rhythms choppy, the vocals achingly cool. If you’ve ever found yourself enjoying The Modern Lovers, The Strokes, Parquet Courts, Cage the Elephant or any number of similar rhythm groups, then you’ll find something here to devour” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“with expert guitar and drum work that harkens to the best of roaring indie rock, equal parts chaos and control, Lemons is a zesty, life-affirming punch to the gut” – EXCLAIM!

“a fine set of spiky post-punk inflected with surf, motorik prog and other styles, combining angular guitars, driving rhythms and often-dystopian lyrics” – KEXP



ORDER: APPLE / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE VINYL (ed.100)
PRESS: THOUGHT I HEARD SOUND, CUPS N CAKES, PHOTOGMUSIC, FUSED MAGAZINE, BEYOND THE WATCH, BROOKLYN VEGAN, ALSO COOL, CULTURE ADDICTS, QUB, CANADIAN BEATS, THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION, ACUTE POP, BANDCAMP NEW & NOTABLE, CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE, CBC RADIO3, OUT OUT, BEARDED GENTLEMEN, EXCLAIM, TALKHOUSE, POST TRASH, THE LINE OF BEST FIT, KEXP

FAKE PALMS // CIVIL LIBERTIES (VIDEO) LE CANAL AUDITIF, PANIC MANUAL, INDIE 88, BROOKLYN VEGAN, KCRW

FAKE PALMS, the project helmed by Toronto-based artist Michael le Riche, is today returning with his third single “Civil Liberties” (video directed by Jordan Allen) from Lemons, set for release via Hand Drawn Dracula on September 16, 2022.

Michael le Riche called upon a veritable who’s who of Toronto indie-dom for Lemons, drawing from the ranks of Dilly Dally (Ben Reinhartz), Ducks Ltd (Evan Lewis), Sauna (Braeden Craig), and Twist (Laura Hermiston). Taking to Candle Recording studio with long-time contributor, co-producer, and engineer Josh Korody (Breeze, Beliefs), the songwriting dove headlong even further into dream-math-punk sensibilities.

The haunting “Civil Liberties” comes as another refreshing reminder of le Riche’s smart ability to meld outsider-pop with post-punk, coating his sound in this metallic, slick sheen. It summons the sounds of The Strokes circa Room On Fire, Iceage and Omni with a pummelling rhythm track tied to a tingly, soaring chorus that’s impossible to shake after first exposure. “Civil Liberties” manages the trick of sounding wistful and dystopian at the same time. “This record is the most direct thing I’ve ever done,” says Le Riche. “All the distorted guitars playing 16th-note riffs in different time signatures, washes of noise and buried vocals are basically gone. In their place we made a record that’s lean and a punch to the gut.”


PRE-ORDER: APPLE / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE VINYL (ed.100)
PRESS: INDIE 88, THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION, LE CANAL AUDITIF, TINNITIST, BROOKLYN VEGAN, PANIC MANUAL, WRSZW, INDIE MACHINE, NICHE MUSIC, CULTURE ADDICTS, MUSIC IS TO BLAME, SOME PARTY, CIRCUIT SWEET, KCRW

FAKE PALMS // VISIONS (VIDEO) THE VERGE, BIZZARRE, NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS, LE CANAL AUDITIF, INDIE 88, BROOKLYN VEGAN, BANDCAMP NEW & NOTABLE

FAKE PALMS, the project helmed by Toronto-based artist Michael le Riche, is today returning with his new single “Visions” (video directed by Justis Krar) from Lemons, set for release via Hand Drawn Dracula on September 16, 2022.

Michael le Riche called upon a veritable who’s who of Toronto indie-dom for Lemons, drawing from the ranks of Dilly Dally (Ben Reinhartz), Ducks Ltd (Evan Lewis), Sauna (Braeden Craig), and Twist (Laura Hermiston). Taking to Candle Recording studio with long-time contributor, co-producer, and engineer Josh Korody (Breeze, Beliefs), the songwriting dove headlong even further into dream-math-punk sensibilities.

The arch jangle of new single, “Visions” evokes Lee Ranaldo linking up with the bubblegum-savvy early Wire while finding le Riche tapping into some of his poppiest moments as a songwriter following his previous work as Fake Palms, as well as the soupy electronica of his work with Sauna and art-rock of Darcys. The track erupts with slashing guitar and quickfire percussion which matches Michael’s vocals toe for toe. Speaking about the track, he says: “Visions” is the sound of power chords and an overactive right arm. No more intricate, overly complex guitar parts or different time signatures. It’s Buzzcocks or the Dead Boys at its core, angular and jangly. “Musically, it’s the most direct thing I’ve ever done. No hiding behind walls of reverb, mutating time signatures, or vague lyrics.”


PRE-ORDER: APPLE / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE VINYL (ed.100)
PRESS: ROMU ROCKS, CIRCUIT SWEET, SOME PARTY, SONOFMARKETING, ACUTE POP, LE CANAL AUDITIF, THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION, TINNITIST, INDIE MACHINE, NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS, INDIE 88, BROOKLYN VEGAN, BIZZARRE, THE VERGE / SIRIUSXM, APPLE MUSIC, BANDCAMP NEW & NOTABLE

FAKE PALMS // SATELLITE (VIDEO) ALAN CROSS, SIDEWALK HUSTLE, AUSTIN TOWN HALL, BROOKLYN VEGAN, EXCLAIM! MAGAZINE

FAKE PALMS, the project helmed by Toronto-based artist Michael le Riche, is today returning with his new single “Satellite” (video directed by Justis Krar) and word of a new record.  Lemons is set for release via Hand Drawn Dracula on September 16, 2022.

Michael le Riche called upon a veritable who’s who of Toronto indie-dom for Lemons, drawing from the ranks of Dilly Dally (Ben Reinhartz), Ducks Ltd (Evan Lewis), Sauna (Braeden Craig), and Twist (Laura Hermiston). Taking to Candle Recording studio with long-time contributor, co-producer, and engineer Josh Korody (Breeze, Beliefs), the songwriting dove headlong even further into dream-math-punk sensibilities.

Just the third proper release from a one-man band that le Riche routinely manifests in the flesh onstage in Toronto as a sort of amorphous, all-star underground-Toronto noise-pop “supergroup,” this is an album that fully derives its antisocial scorch through the increased clarity and precision of the Fake Palms vision. Lemons is slippery, spiky, not a little psych-y and more than a little lyrically sour, not to mention frequently, subtly tricked-out from a minimalist, nerdo-instrumental perspective that doesn’t demand that you dork out over the arrangements but will always leave the option open if and when you decide to do so.

“Satellite” is sonically Magazine meets A Flock of Seagulls. Captained by a jagged, muscular guitar part that’s surrounded by an atypical rhythm section it thematically tackles modern technologies, mob mentality and safe havens from doom scrolling. Speaking about the new album, Michael explains: “This record is the most direct thing I’ve ever done,” says Le Riche. “All the distorted guitars playing 16th-note riffs in different time signatures, washes of noise and buried vocals are basically gone. In their place, we made a record that’s lean and a punch to the gut. There are still some moments where the guitars get a little tricky but, in general, we tried to be as immediate as possible. The songs are all fairly short and there are almost no extra production tricks. I was inspired by records like the Dead Boys’ Young, Loud and Snotty and the Buzzcocks’ Another Music in a Different Kitchen. Maybe because of what was going on in the world at the time, or maybe just as a reaction to the last Fake Palms record – which was flush with production flourishes – it just felt necessary to kick the door down instead of knocking.”

PRE-ORDER: APPLE / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE VINYL (ed.100)
PRESS: ALAN CROSS, SOME PARTY, LIFE ELSEWHERE, CIRCUIT SWEET, NICHE MUSIC, SIDEWALK HUSTLE, INDIE MACHINE, WRSZW, PHOTOGMUSIC, TINNITIST, THOUGHTS WORDS ACTION, AUSTIN TOWN HALL, BROOKLYN VEGAN 1, BROOKLAN VEGAN 2, EXCLAIM 1, EXCLAIM 2