Track of the Week: “Shoreline (7/4)” – Broken Social Scene

(From the forthcoming self-titled album from the local supergroup, due Oct. 4)

Check it: Missed the free download while it was up at the Arts & Crafts website? Well, it’s still up for grabs on their European label’s site (sneaky, we know): cityslang.com.

The big ol’ family that is Broken Social Scene presents its long-awaited and much-overdue offering to the indie scene next month with its latest album.

“Shoreline,” the album’s first single, kicks the fall season off right, with a lingering guitar riff that anticipates a headlong jump into that oh-so-Broken feel of fast drums and frenetic guitars supporting slow, drawn-out, mournful lyrics. Ringleader Kevin Drew and la femme Feist share the mic, trading call-and-response vocals and giving the opening bars a relaxed, almost conversational feel.

But Feist’s tone soon turns to panic, as she and Drew take us to the chorus, warning: “It’s coming/it’s coming in hard.” The guitars take on a discordant sound, and Feist and Drew join vocal forces, layering their wails and bringing the song to a boil. Then suddenly, the bottom drops out and there’s complete silence. And just as quickly, we’re back into it at full speed, guitars wailing.

“Shoreline” was worth the wait, infused as it is with BSS’ usual glorious gusto- though the track can come across a tad unvaried, as though it’s one long (albeit rippin’) chorus interspersed with some catchy instrumental breaks (it’s all about the horns, people).

The odd meter (7/4, natch) gives the track an added touch of personality, as does the nifty midpoint break, but shades of You Forgot It In People’s “Stars and Sons” and “Almost Crimes” are definitely distinguishable. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Most importantly, “Shoreline” does its job-piquing interest in the rest of the album (which, by the way, features a neat k-os cameo amongst the usual BSS army)-well. If the tune is any indication of things to come, the record should more than sate Broken Socialites hungry for some epic indie-rock.

-MALCOLM JOHNSTON