It was 2008 that we first featured Halves in the pages of State the magazine, since which they have been quietly readying themselves for the world at large. Well as quietly as anyone working with a member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor can be. Basing themselves at Hotel2tango in Montreal, Efrim Menuck has been overseeing their debut album, due for release in March, and featuring a mixture of organic samples, strings, brass and choir as well as guest vocalists Amy Millan (Stars/Broken Social Scene), Katie Kim & Phil Boughton (Subplots). Far from being an acquired taste, however, Halves topped the viewers choice poll for last year’s Other Voices.

Photo: Loreana Rushe