Cheers to Amos & Good Night My Dear…

Goodnight My Dear…I’m Falling Apart, the newest release from Amos the Transparent, was supposed to take two months to make. Instead, it took two years.

Despite the delay – by chief songwriter Jonathan Chandler’s initial dissatisfaction such that he deleted nearly all the early work – the final result is a record sonically more coherent than either their 2007 or 2009 efforts. Released on February 14, on 45 Records / Sunday School Music, the new record is a bold step forward for the Ottawa alt-rock outfit.

“On this [record], said Chandler, “the band has been in this formation for so long and we’re used to having people play what they do so I’m really confident to say that the record that came out is a pretty good depiction of what we are.”

Keeping a single sound in a band as sprawling as Amos is almost impossible, said Chandler. The seven-piece alt-rock outfit – consisting of Ottawa natives Christopher Wilson, James Nicol, Mark Hyne, Daniel Hay, Kate Sargent and Mike Yates – relies on a gentle give-and-take. Said Chandler, “Everyone has to feel like they had a fair say. If people aren’t pleased with the way it is, obviously we’ll change and compromise.”

The band’s chief songwriter, Chandler says each song starts as the basic concept, demoed in various forms to others in the band; adding elements and adjusting arrangements. “People are really good at humouring me to try to bring my arrangement to life,” Chandler explained.

As a firm believer that a song is never really complete, Chandler wrote much of the record with live performance in mind. “Songs get more aggressive over time, naturally,” he explained. “You get more comfortable with your part, so you play it louder; your amp turns up a bit, [the song] gets a little more gritty.”

With tour dates already underway, Chandler expressed Amos’ anticipation of getting back on the road – that there is “something very exciting about being able to play new songs all the time,” he said. “I’m looking forward to having people hear the new songs and eventually sing them along with [us].” With every visit to a city the band sees a handful more fans singing and shouting along with the band – a personal highlight, he added.

That energy – consistent between the album and Amos’ live set – is a part of the band itself. “With seven people in the band,” he said, “there’s hardly a dull moment”, said Chandler.

“It’s like I’m going to hang out with seven of my friends – that’s like a party for some people.”

Amos the Transparent brings the party to Ritual this Saturday, February 18.