Built in the shadows of rain-covered Vancouver, Sex With Strangers are Canada’s greatest purveyors of what they call “robot-rock”. Fronted by the inimitable Hatch Benedict and mysterious bassist Magnus Magnum, Sex With Strangers proudly present their latest full-length roller-coaster “Frontier Justice”, available on Boutique Empire records now.
The two band-mates first met in 1994 during the format...ion of the Vancouver-based "crust-core" band Harvey Switched. The 5-member post-punk outfit toured and recorded several EP's in the late ‘90’s, most notably the critically acclaimed EP "2001 - A Rock Odyssey", which was co-produced by The New Pornographers' bassist John Collins.
After a three-year hiatus, Hatch and Magnus set forth in a new musical direction in 2004, writing and recording material with established producer Mark Henning (Pure, Guilty About Girls, Combine the Victorious). Guitarist Wedge Beavers and singer/fashion designer Isabelle “Bobbie” Dunlop soon joined the band to lend their talents to this suddenly unfolding project. Featuring the internet-buzz single "Dance Police", the newly named Sex With Strangers released their debut EP "A Future Tragedy" in April 2007.
Inspired by the initial reaction to the new project, SWS headed back into the studio with Mark Henning to work on their first full-length recording, “The Modern Seduction”. Supported by the artwork of Robert Edmonds, “The Modern Seduction” was released in October of 2008. Fueled by critical acclaim in their hometown of Vancouver, the album quickly garnered attention from college radio and press across North America – most notably, SPIN Magazine, which named SWS one of “7 Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen” to from around the world.
In 2009, the line-up was expanded to include live drummer Dallas Archangel. That year saw SWS headline showcases at the JunoFest, SLED Island, and Olio festivals, in addition to buzz-generating performances at Music Waste, THE BIG TIME OUT, and Rifflandia festivals. Unpredictable, feverish and always interactive, the band’s live show continues to activate audiences everywhere.
2009 also saw Sex With Strangers busy at work in the studio constructing their third release, “The Tokyo Steel”. The concluding story to the trilogy that begun with “A Future Tragedy” and “The Modern Seduction”, the album is set in a futuristic corner of Asia, where a band of freedom-fighters know as The Formers have once again been summoned to investigate the mysterious “Tokyo Steel project" and its threat to the “live forever lifestyle”.
The album garnered the band 2010 showcases at this the SXSW and NXNE festivals and featured the singles/videos "New City Anthem" and "We Want the Fire", both of which have appeared on MuchMusic in Canada.
This brings us to Sex With Strangers brand new album “Frontier Justice”. Recorded during the latter half of 2010, the new record is a marked departure from the earlier records’ predominantly electronic feel. Utilizing a live drummer for the first time and a greater emphasis on deep bass grooves, the new record is a roller-coaster ride through the band’s earlier influences…Girls Against Boys, Bowie, Prince, The Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, Trans Am, Duran Duran, you name it. And while the new concept album runs the gamut of genres, there remains one reliable constant to the music of Sex With Strangers. You can call it your dance partner.
You can check out the band this year as they tour across Canada while perfoming at SXSW, CMW and The Halifax Pop Explosion. In addtion, follow the band as they take part in the prestigious Peak Performance Project this Fall!
