Handsome Furs

Handsome Furs

Handsome Furs are an indie rock group from Montréal, Canada, active from 2006 to 2012. The band consists of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry.

Formation and members

Handsome Furs form around the partnership of Dan Boeckner, who sings and plays guitar, and Alexei Perry, who plays keyboards and sings. The group takes its name from the title of a short story Perry is writing at the time of the band’s conception. Boeckner is also a member of Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic.

Style and live history

The band works within indie rock with an electronic, experimental edge. Their recordings feature drum machine beats alongside Boeckner’s vocals and themes of urban life, smaller towns, longing, fear, uncertainty and realism. Before releasing any recordings, they tour Europe, and they also open for acts including Paavoharju, Islaja, David Cross and Modest Mouse.

Recordings

Handsome Furs release three albums on Sub Pop: Plague Park, Face Control and Sound Kapital. Plague Park is their debut and is recorded at Wolf Parade’s studio, Mount Zoomer. The album Face Control is inspired by club culture they observe while touring in Eastern Europe, particularly a Moscow practice in which reserved tables can still be denied entry based on appearance. New songs performed on tour include “Officer of Hearts”, “Heaven”, “Legal Tender” and “Radio Kaliningrad”. A New Order reference in “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything” requires legal clearance before the album’s release is set. The group splits in May 2012.