Menace Ruine began in 2006, following several other collaborative projects between the Montreal-based duo of S. de la Moth and Geneviève. Over the course of four albums and an EP they have forged a unique and idiosyncratic sound, constructed from vast, distorted, yet always melodic textures and the imposing voice and songwriting of Geneviève. MR recorded two CDs for Montreal’s Alien8 Recordings (later reissued on vinyl by Transcendental Creations) and a cassette on Tour de Garde. These were followed up in 2010 by ‘Union of Irreconcilables’, a CD and double LP on UK imprint Aurora Borealis, and a very limited 3” CDr, ‘Sigil Sessions’, on Luchtrat of Belgium.
MR have played live extensively in Canada and the US, sharing stages with artists as diverse as Francisco López, Nadja, Daniel Menche, Wolf Eyes and Watain. They conducted their first European tour in the spring of 2011 with French group
Aluk Todolo, including an appearance at Holland’s Roadburn festival, where they were invited by 2011 curators Sunn 0))).
In the past year, the members of MR have been very busy; Geneviève’s other group
Preterite released their debut CD last fall on
Handmade Birds, and recorded their second during the winter. S has produced two cassettes with his new duo
S/V\R, the latest also released by Handmade Birds. Parallel to all this, a new Menace Ruine album is to be released Fall 2012 on vinyl by
Sige Records, and on CD by
Profound Lore. The album promises to be their most elaborate recording to date, combining the graceful melodicism of 2008’s ‘The Die is Cast’ with minimalist, yet forceful arrangements, elaborate structures and powerful rhythms.
