artist Windows '78

It seems inevitable that THE WINDOW SEAT, the debut album from Vancouver’s Windows ’78, will be labelled as “space rock”. The disc’s ten songs showcase the band’s ability to craft a rich, evocative sound that weaves together melodic guitar lines, subtly deployed electronic loops, and masterful drumming. At the album’s heart is a trilogy of songs—“Opportunity”, “Spirit”, and “Pathfinder”—that tell the stories of robotic rovers exploring Mars. These songs can be appreciated purely on the level of scientific speculation: If the rovers had thoughts and feelings of their own, what would they tell us about themselves and their experiences? At the same time, the trilogy poses a few metaphorical questions: Are the robots us? Do the incalculable reaches of space and the barren dunes of Mars represent the psychological landscapes of solitary humans? Maybe these songs aren’t really about outer space after all… “Through media and modern technology, people have become more complacent, and more accepting of isolation,” says singer/lyricist Mark Rogers. “This is an album about cities, small spaces and loneliness.”

Mark Rogers bass, vox