Foxes In Fiction - Ontario Gothic review

Foxes In Fiction is the name Warren Hildebrand has given to various musical projects, solo or otherwise, dating back to 2005.   In 2008 his 16 year old brother passed away.  Hildebrand sunk into a morass of depression and grief relieved only by certain music particularly that of Brian Eno and Atlas Sound. 

Many people make music to excise their grief and pain.  Many also make music to excise others grief and pain.  Few are as intentional about it as Hildebrand.  That particular music "was probably the most helpful thing through that entire situation, so emerging from that I knew that I wanted to make things that had a degree of helpfulness to them and I wanted to make things that I found to be healing music. I'd been making music in a really directionless way before that, but that was when I realized exactly what I wanted"

Hildebrand is from Toronto and founded the prolific Orchid Tapes there in 2010 while attending art school.  The label focuses on cassette recordings, vinyl, limited edition compilations and free internet releases.   As a result of his arts background the label has a strong visual ethic and is clearly modelled after or deeply influenced by Blocks Recording Club a cooperative which Owen Pallett (Arcade Fire/ Final Fantasy/ Owen Pallett) is a founder of.   The name of the label itself is inspired by a Deerhunter song Tape Hiss Orchid.   Orchid Tapes first release was Foxes In Fiction's 2010 full length Swung From The Branches which garnered popular and critical praise.  Orchid Tapes and Hildebrand as an artist blossomed after a move to Bushwick, Brooklyn in 2012 (there Brian Vu joined the label expanding its roster and scope).

Ontario Gothic is deeply influenced by the chamber pop of Owen Pallett who contributes greatly to the overall sound of the album.  Ontario Gothic was recorded between 2011 and 2014 in New York, Toronto, London and Portland.  The album was written mixed and recorded by Hildebrand and features Owen Pallett (violin), Ansel Cohen (cello), Beau Sorensen (piano) as well as the voices of Rachel Levy, Caroline White and Sam Ray.

The Foxes In Fiction sound has a bit in common with the baroque pop of Fleet Foxes married with an ambient, gauzy sonic quality (Eno, Slowdive, insert 'gauzy' band name here). 

Ontario Gothic is available by naming your own price at the artist's bandcamp page.