COMPANION EP OUT NOW VIA FLEMISH EYE

Last week, Montreal trio Braids released a complement to their critically lauded 2015 LP Deep In The Iris, a 19 minute EP 'Companion.'

Today, the JUNO Award winning band shares a video directed by Maria Ines Manchego for the track "Joni". Conceived by vocalistRaphaelle Standell-Preston and shot over a whirlwind weekend in Los Angeles, the video explores the end of a relationship, with a couple striving to reclaim their individuality while remaining close together. Standell-Preston describes the conception and making of the video on YouTube.

WATCH AND SHARE “JONI” (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) HERE

The band starts a North American and UK tour tomorrow, including performances at Ritual in Ottawa on June 4th, Pemberton Festivalin BC, Wayhome Festival in southern Ontario, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and three nights at Casa del Popolo in Montreal.

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BRAIDS ON TOUR:

05.25 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
05.26 - Echo - Los Angeles, CA
05.27 - Valley Bar - Phoenix, AZ
05.31 - Great Scott - Boston, MA
06.01 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
06.02 - Comet Ping Pong - Washington, DC
06.03 - Rough Trade - Brooklyn, NY
06.04 - Ritual - Ottawa, ON
06.17 - The Hug & Pint - Glasgow, SCT
06.18 - Soup Kitchen - Manchester, ENG
06.19 - O2 Academy - Oxford, ENG
06.21 - Patterns - Brighton, ENG
06.22 - Start The Bus - Bristol, ENG
06.23 - Pickle Factory - London, ENG
06.26 - Glastonbury, ENG
06.27 - Arts Centre - Norwich, ENG
07.15 - Pemberton Festival - Pemberton, BC
07.22 - Wayhome Festival - Oro-Medonte, ON
07.23 - Calgary Folk Festival - Calgary, AL
07.27 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, ON
07.28 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, ON

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BRAIDS - COMPANION EP
May 20th, 2016 (LP/Digital) - 19 minutes

1 Companion
2 Joni
3 Trophies For Paradox
4 Sweet World

Braids’ new EP Companion follows last year's JUNO Award-winning and Polaris Music Prize -shortlisted Deep In The Iris. Deep In The Iris launched several worldwide tours and garnered the Montreal-based band international critical acclaim for their pristine, intricately ornamented electronic pop music, and this new 19 minute EP further explores the sonic vistas introduced on that album.

The band completed the tracks on Companion during a burst of creative energy this past August, burrowing deeper into the sonic world they mapped out on the album while digging into new modes of expression and composition. Far from being outtakes or B-sides, the EP presents a beguiling study of extremes —from joy to disaffection, thunderous explosion to delicate introspection— as a cohesive whole. From the rhythmically provocative and melodically supple "Joni" — which conjures a dream meeting of Bjork and Aphex Twin— to the nakedly powerful minimalist arrangement on "Companion" and the patient blossoming of "Sweet World", Companion once again demonstrates Braids' ability to fuse emotionally powerful songs with their gorgeous, unerring production sensibilities.

The four pieces of music on Companion offer a brief snapshot of a constantly-evolving group perpetually finding their way forward and exploring the edges of a totally distinctive voice. Though it uses Deep In The Iris as a compositional guidepost, Companion is a breathtaking journey all of its own.

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Photo: Karoline Lebrun

Braids are a three-piece experimental pop band from Montreal. Longtime friends, Braids was formed in 2007 in Calgary, AB. After relocating to Montreal, the band released their critically acclaimed debut Native Speaker in 2011, and the follow-up Flourish // Perishfollowed in 2013. In 2015, Braids released their arresting third album Deep In The Iris, netting them a JUNO Award and a spot on the Polaris Music Prize shortlist. Consisting of Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Austin Tufts, and Taylor Smith, Braids are a collaborative whole, emphasizing a collective creative experience.

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Braids on Flemish Eye :
http://www.flemisheye.com/braids

Listen to single “Companion” on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/braidsmusic/companion/s-X3Wo1

Braids press materials :
http://www.flemisheye.com/press/braids

On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/braidsmusic

Watch “Companion”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoYfBhMAEUE

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“excellent” - Rolling Stone

“one of the finest records of the year so far” - Drowned In Sound

“melodic, genre-bending, atmospheric music that could soundtrack a train ride or a temper tantrum” - Stereogum

“shiver-inducing” - NOW

“rich with startling little images” - Pitchfork