Music

The Dears' Murray A. Lightburn announces release date for debut solo album

by Mark Teo

Photo: Andrew White

Murray A. Lightburn is an iconic figure in Canadian music: While his career’s only a decade and a half old, his work with The Dears has already found its way into the national canon. (To wit, we loved Gang of Losers so much that we named it Arts & Crafts’s fourth best release, sandwiched in between Broken Social Scene and Timber Timbre’s Creep on Creepin’ On.) Beyond his work with The Dears, however, Lightburn also revealed that he’s working on MASS: LIGHT—a solo record comprised with songs that didn’t fit the shape and feel of his main gig—which is pulling him in darker directions. He promised that his solo fare will be anthemic yet electronic, funk-referencing but goth in tone, and, according to MASS: LIGHT‘s press release, there’s even been comparisons made to pop operas like Jesus Christ Superstar. Weird? Sure. But if anyone has the songwriting chops to pull it off, it’s Lightburn.

Now, Lightburn has announced a release date for the album. MASS: LIGHT will see the light of day on August 20, released digitally and on vinyl via The Dears’ own Ting Dun Records. He’s also announced some extras for the Adrian Popovich-produced album; he’ll be including several of his pre-worn polos, complete with album insignia, in randomly selected pre-orders. If you’d like a chance to wear one ’em, pre-orders are available right here. And even if you don’t win one, you’re in luck—the first pressing of MASS: LIGHT will have D.I.Y. silk-screened, hand-numbered covers. Check the process out below. Vraiement ponk, ça!

Want an idea of what Lightburn’s solo fare sounds like? In a word: Thrillingly anthemic. Check the teaser below for “Motherfuckers,” or download the track via Lightburn’s Soundcloud.