The first album since 1997 from Canadian indie legends features Smile line-up along with other past members
When asked to name Canada’s most influential bands, musicians and critics alike invariably single out Change of Heart. The Toronto institution formed by singer/guitarist Ian Blurton and bassist/lyricist Rob Taylor in 1982—when both were barely into their teens—quickly established itself within the nascent Canadian independent music scene, transcending their post-punk roots through a combination of psychedelic and experimental influences that pre-dated the “alternative rock” revolution of the 1990s.
With Taylor’s departure from Change of Heart following the 1992 masterpiece Smile, the band continued to evolve with various line-ups until 1998 when Blurton quietly shut things down and charted a new course for himself. But now, the classic core roster consisting of Blurton, Taylor, keyboardist Bernard Maiezza and drummer John Richardson is back—with contributions from every other past band member—on In The Wreckage, an album that re-affirms Change of Heart’s rightful place near the top of Canada’s rock and roll hierarchy.
Ian Blurton says,
“For me, the whole record encompasses the entire history of the band. We made a list of all the things we wanted to include on the album that had maybe not appeared on previous ones, so I feel like it fills in the blanks of our character.”
Rob Taylor adds,
“I’ve never thought of Change of Heart in terms of our legacy, but more as an on-going project that would have another chapter if we wanted to write it. One of the best parts of making this record has been to hang out again with the people who made up Change of Heart in its various configurations.”
CHANGE OF HEART / In The Wreckage release shows:
Fri April 25 :: Toronto ON :: The Sound Garage
Sat April 26 :: Toronto ON :: The Sound Garage
*with guests Bonnie Trash and Andrew Dickson
Tickets at DICE.fm