Kestrels - "Dream Or Don't Dream"

Words by Zach Romano.

Halifax guitar heroes Kestrels are back with Dream or Don’t Dream, their much-awaited follow-up to 2016’s self-titled Kestrels.  Dream sees the band leaning into their 90's alternative-inspired sound, playing with noise, fuzz, and guitar effects in a way that will make alt-rock nostalgists and pedalheads swoon.

Kestrels’ guitarist and frontman Chad Peck gave Dream or Don’t Dream a sound that hangs with its inspirations by bringing some of the key players who actually worked on those albums onboard: mixing from John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Alvvays, Kurt Vile, Cyndi Lauper) and mastering engineer Greg Calbi (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Television, Blondie) is a thirty-something alt-rock guy’s wildest fantasy. Over one hundred pedals were used on Dream to produce a sludge that would make Kevin Shields proud.

As strange as it sounds in that context, this is a back to basics album in that the focus is squarely on guitars and guitar sounds. Pedalboard gawkers will want to show up early to guarantee some front-row ogling when Kestrels start playing live again. Peck’s vocals are a pleasant addition to the mix, bringing to mind Swervedriver or Silversun Pickups’ Brian Aubert at his most chilled out.  The omnipresent fuzz and set tempos throughout Dream give the album a consistent feel despite leading to some bleed between the tracks at times.

Former Kestrels stagemate J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. joins the band on “Grey and Blue,” and the solo he rockets into the second half of the track is as chaotic and cathartic as I hoped it would be when I saw his name on the tracklist. Peck’s Dino-inspired solos throughout the rest of the album approach the pyrotechnics Mascis delivers, and album highlight “Feels Like the End” packs an emotional punch as well as a sonic one.

Dream or Don’t Dream is an ode to the guitar pedal, and if you love guitars and effects as much as Peck and company clearly do, then this is an album you shouldn’t miss. You can purchase Dream Or Don’t Dream on awesome limited edition transparent blue vinyl via Darla Records. The album is also available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify.