Toronto, Canada-based Loveproof is a collaborative music project formed in 2013 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ciaran Megahey and multi-instrumentalist & producer Brendan McGarvey. The two originally met in high school and formed a short-lived band, but eventually went their own ways. Ciaran is also a member of Canadian indie band The Autumn Stones (whose music I previously featured on this blog in 2016 and 2018).

After reconnecting in 2013, they began writing songs inspired by their shared love of bands like Joy Division, Guided by Voices and My Bloody Valentine, and soon had a collection of dark and fascinating songs on their hands. Describing their sound as “dreamy, dubby doom pop,” the duo named their project Loveproof, in honor of the My Bloody Valentine classic “Loveless.” In December, 2017, they released their debut album Neon Blood, Volume One, which I reviewed the following March. My, how time does fly by! 

The duo then decided to assemble a full band so they could perform their songs in front of live audiences, enlisting Brendan’s brother Chris McGarvey on guitar and Joey Proulx on drums. In January 2020, they released a New Order-esque re-imagining of the Joy Division classic song “Wilderness”. Now they’re back with a new EP Winter’s Children, their first release of new original music in six years.

After listening to the EP, I can state that it was well worth the wait. Combining elements of dream pop, indie rock, and dub with a dark gothic sensibility, Loveproof have crafted four utterly captivating songs. For their recording, Ciaran sang vocals and Brendan played and programmed all instruments. I love Ciaran’s sensuous vocal style that reminds me at times of Bryan Ferry, so it’s a treat hearing him sing again.

The EP opens with “A Song is Not Enough“, a bewitching track that channels the best of Joy Division and Depeche Mode. I love Brendan’s mysterious dreamy synths and sharp percussive notes built over a sensuous pulsating beat, accompanied by Ciaran’s ethereal sultry vocals as he softly croons “A song is not enough to break this spell.“

Equally bewitching is “Spires“, a glorious chillwave gem with icy synths layered over a sensuous bass-driven dub groove, and punctuated by emphatic percussive beats. Ciaran’s breathy croons are enchanting as he sings from the perspective of someone grasping for something solid to hold on to amid all the chaos and uncertainty. “In a world full of darkness, you said ‘the truth is coming’, and you howled to the mountains and you tore their lies asunder. With time, with faith, your spires to the heavens shine, and love will light our way.” The beautiful video created for the track features images of Loveproof performing the song interspersed with scenes of Toronto and various animals in their natural settings.

On the enchanting but bittersweet “Even the Stars“, Ciaran softly laments over a lost love: “Come back to me, Scarlet Rose / Everything good dies here, even the stars.” A highlight of this track for me are Brendan’s beautiful chiming guitar notes.

The final track “Young Lords” addresses the political polarization of modern society. Ciaran elaborates: “Not really making any political judgments, but just noticing the religious character of people’s political identities today. The phrase ‘Young Lords’ is actually the name of a far left organization that I believe still exists today. I’m just using it as a metaphor for political militancy/extremism though. I read a book that mentioned them a long time ago and I remember really liking the name, as it sounds really poetic. I don’t really know much about them specifically though. So, I guess I am just lamenting how that polarization seems to have made it difficult for people to see each other’s humanity. It seems to have coarsened public life.” “Young lords colliding. Used to be a mountain, used to be a king, hungry as a lion’s heart. Used to be a master, used to hear you sing, thundering the soul apart. Goodnight my heart, goodnight my love.” I’m sounding like a broken record as I continually use the word ‘sensuous’, but the track’s languid dub groove is overflowing with it, enhanced by Brendan’s lush, moody synths and throbbing bass.

Although its four tracks are decidedly melancholy, with less than happy subject matter, Winter’s Children is nevertheless a stunning and flawlessly-crafted work that makes for an enjoyable listen. If you’re a fan of 80s-inspired darkwave and electro-pop, as well as ethereal sultry vocals, you will like this EP. It’s good to have Loveproof back!

Connect with Loveproof:  Facebook / Instagram 

Find their music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube