The self-titled debut album from the Vertical Struts is out now on Pop Echo, and it's been getting rave reviews. The electric Edmonton two-piece has been garnering praise and notoriety for their live show out in the West, and now they're finally bringing it to Wavelength. Matt Blair spoke to the group via email.

ALL THIS EMPHASIS ON HOW HARD YOU GUYS ROCK STEALS ATTENTION AWAY FROM SOFTER TRACKS LIKE 'œWATERLOO'?. ISN'T THAT KIND OF UNFAIR?
Trevor: It makes for a nice sucker punch in the live show.
Raymond: There'll be some people who'll write us off as a 'œrock rock rock'? band without getting to the slow ones at the end of the album. For them we're planning a new 7'? EP of only slow songs this spring, and it should be recorded in CJLO at McGill on some days off this tour. I mean, slowing things down has been a part of us for a very long time '“ I think 'œWaterloo'? was the third song we ever wrote and we've got half a dozen more quiet pieces sitting around '“ and we'd like to emphasize them in our next few releases.

YOU'RE ONE OF ONLY THREE ACTS SIGNED TO POP ECHO, WHO JUST RELEASED YOUR DEBUT CD. HOW HAS IT BEEN TO WORK WITH SUCH A NEW AND GROWING LABEL?
Trevor: Formative. We're all figuring it out together. These are guys who were at our very first shows ever, and still, they like us...
Raymond: We get a lot of attention from each other. The honest 'œwe all might be making huge mistakes right now, so let's keep tight'? kind of attention. There isn't a record label mentor in Edmonton to show any of the new local labels or bands how things are done, so there's a lot of groping in the dark. It's exciting being part of the big gamble going on in town '“ so many people or groups of people are throwing what little money they have into the most horrible investment ever: indie bands. I think everyone's going to end up broke and middle-aged, but I really want someone to prove me wrong.

THE REVIEWS COMING OUT OF EDMONTON SEEM TO CELEBRATE YOU AS LOCAL HEROES. HAVE YOU FOUND THE EDMONTON SCENE IN GENERAL TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ITS ARTISTS?
Trevor: Yep. The city is way more collaborative than competitive. It has to do with our remote location: we're all really doing it for each other in the first place. We are all each others' audience.
Raymond: Sometimes it's too supportive and tight. It's easy to wonder if we're an interesting band or just easy collaborators, good hosts or good friends. Getting out of the city, though, dispels those doubts. Entering a strange room and being judged on sounds alone is horrifying and real.

A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, TREVOR SAID 'œI WANT THESE KIDS TO KNOW THAT COCKSUCKERS CAN ROCK'?. HOW IMPORTANT, IF AT ALL, IS YOUR SEXUAL IDENTITY TO THE MUSIC THESE DAYS?
Trevor: Well, it has a lot to do with context. When we play all ages shows in small Albertan towns like Penhold, we take lyric sheets so the one or two 15 year old boys in just a little eyeliner have something to put in their panty drawers, and know they're not alone. But of course it'll all play differently in a club like Sneaky Dees, where we know full well men are smiling at each other in the washroom.
Raymond: Not to say that's all we focus on, but we'd be dishonest to each other and an audience if we denied any sexual orientation, queer or straight, the joy of being stood up, fucked (both ways), wanted or unwanted in song. As long as what goes on around love is important it'll be there.

YOU'VE ARGUED THAT FUN IS NOT FUN. IS NO FUN FUN?
Trevor: Yesss.
Raymond: No.