This week’s Recommends features a new video from Canadian producer Caribou, otherwise known as Dan Snaith. Originally hailing from Ontario, Canada, Snaith began releasing music under the guise of Manitoba in 2000 and at once caught the attention of those music fans who concern themselves with the peripheries. Spacious, atmospheric and trippy, the Manitoba sound pulled in influences from all over the place, incorporating Shoegaze, Krautrock and Psychedelia but employing contemporary ear when it came to the production. By doing so Snaith created something new and unique, yet reassuringly steeped in  leftfield tradition. The organic feel of these early recordings, and indeed all of his work, is in part reflected by some of the most exciting music currently coming out of the States: Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors all share occasional similarities.

After moving to London in 2001 to work on a Phd in Mathematics (his thesis was entitled ‘Overconvergent Siegel Modular Symbols’) Snaith built up a dedicated  underground following via a string of releases on the much loved Leaf Label. Luckily, his fanbase was dedicated enough to see him through legal wranglings that would eventually see him drop the Manitoba moniker in favour of Caribou. Richard ‘Handsome Dick’ Manitoba, the singer of niche New York Punk band The Dictators threatened a lawsuit should Snaith continue to release music as Manitoba. “It’s like The Smiths suing John Smith” commented Snaith, who, uninterested in the squabble and unable to afford the legal costs acquiesced.

Snaith further broadened his sonic spectrum with his first release as Caribou. ‘The Milk of Human Kindness’  was informed by touring with his live band, an impressive set-up of two drums, glockenspiel and guitars, and helped establish Snaith as a truly individual talent. The following record’Andorra’ confirmed it, as it was awarded the illustrious Polaris Prize, Canada’s equivalent to the Mercury. Having started out as a bedroom based producer of largely electronic music, ‘Andorra’ saw Snaith become a immersed in the studio, excelling as both a song writer, producer, arrangerand vocalist. Streaked with sun-kissed Pop and soulful Psychedelia, the album referenced many points of Snaith’s recording career whilst still pointing in brave new directions.

The much anticipated follow up to ‘Andorra’ is out soon, and if  opening  track ‘Odessa’ is any kind of indication, the set sees Caribou returning to his electronic roots, but with the same widescreen outlook that made ‘Andorra’ such a striking listen. “I got excited by the idea of making dance music that’s liquid in the way it flows back and forth,” he told US website PItchfork “The sounds slosh around in pitch, timbre, pan… Dance music that sounds like it’s made out of water, rather than made out of metallic stuff like most dance music does”

Snaith plays two UK shows in support of his latest record. The London show will feature a DJ slot from Caribou’s constant collaborator and also North London neighbour Keiran Hebden. There will also be a live set from Gold Panda, the young London producer who’s cropped up in all manner of “ones to watch” lists at the start of the year.

Aside from these live dates, Snaith has been masterminding another live project. Caribou Vibration Ensemble is an audacious project that sees the Canadian leading a band of fourteen musicians . Among them are Keiran Hebden, Stones Throw’s blissed out beat miner, Koushik and Brainiac’s John Schmersal. Not stopping there the Ensemble features four drummers, a choir and full brass section. They played two North American shows last September, and as yet there is no news of any UK appearances. If there are, the best place to keep up to date with Caribou is via the website:

http://www.caribou.fm/