Although Wolf Parade’s dalliances with prog rock haven’t gotten to the obscene levels of ELP, Yes, or Rush, yet, there’s no denying the fact that instrumental geekery has become an integral part of the Montreal band’s sound over the past few years.  On “What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way),” from the soon to be released album, Expo 86, a mopey post-punk rhythm is enlivened by freely streaming keyboards and dualing guitar melodies falling in and out of step with each other.  Smartly, every time they threaten to go off on some ten-minute, self-congratulating tangent they reel themselves in with a chorus or get back to the business of the next verse.  It’s a dangerous game they’re playing here, for once you go full prog, there’s really no going back to being  just a rock band and there’s no going back to a normal life — Prog rock fans own +10 broadswords and they know how to use them.

MP3: Wolf Parade – What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way)

Wolf Parade’s third album, Expo 86, will be released June 29th on Sub Pop. The band will be in Cleveland on July 15th for a show at The Beachland Ballroom. A second track, from their forthcoming release, a tune by the name of, “Ghost Pressure,” is also available for download through the Sub Pop website.

Wolf Parade on Sub Pop Records
Sub Pop