Handsome Furs: Serve the People

Posted: 13 January, 2012

One of our favourite records from 2011 was Sound Kapital, the latest lp from Canadian electro pop duo Handsome Furs. 

Handsome Furs is the brainchild of husband and wife Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, Boeckner being best known for his work with indie rock outfit Wolf Parade.

At the end of 2010, Wolf Parade went on indefinite hiatus, which allowed Boeckner to focus fully on the Handsome Furs. Wanting to write a new record, their third, Boeckner and Perry decided do things differently, and make themselves work harder: they resolved to write the album entirely on keyboards.

It was a telling move. The resulting album, Sound Kapitol, sees a calculated shift away from the ragged guitarwork Boeckner had become known for, the duo instead creating a refined, emotionally resonant brand of synth-pop that has deservedly won them much critical acclaim. 

'Handsome Furs no longer feel like a stripped-down antidote to Wolf Parade,' Pitchfork wrote of the lp, 'but more like a band that's able to execute progressively grander, emotionally resonant ideas while staying within their limited means.'

Sound Kapitol was partly inspired by Boeckner and Perry's recent travels, in which they visited several countries, including Burma, and performed alongside many bands who, by necessity, were truly underground. One of the songs inspired by these journeys is the rousing 'Serve the People', which has a wonderful, moving clip directed by young Chinese director Han Xia.

The clip, which you can watch below, is based on an old high school classmate of Xia's, a lonesome cleaner obsessed with indie music, and was filmed in the director's hometown of Beijing.

Handsome Furs are on Gaga Pub via Third Side Music. Sound Kapitol is out now through Sub Pop.

Pete : 13 January, 2012

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