Edmonton band Koan, with the guidance of veteran producer Nick Blagona, have recently completed their second full-length CD, "Pushing Back at the Sun". After the local success of their debut, "At Everywhere", the band decided to try and elevate what they create to a new level of exposure and experience. In order to push the next project to a national level of attention, it was agreed that the addition of a proven studio veteran was needed. Nick Blagona is a legend having worked with artists from Deep Purple to The Police to The Tea Party. Not willing to rest on his laurels, he takes time away from his day job as Mastering Engineer at the world-renowned Toronto studio, Metalworks, to produce undiscovered Canadian talent. Guitarist Jeff McLellan describes Nick as, "not only a living encyclopaedia of modern music but a technical savant in the studio." Koan is ecstatic for the opportunity to work with someone of such ability and history. Having completely self-produced their first project, entering the studio under the direction of an outside pair of ears was a cautious step for Koan. They entered the studio with some forty songs in different levels of completion. These were all listened to, discussed, and then paired down to the ten remaining tracks. "Nick mines every riff and melody from every song searching for the gems," explains McLellan. "Tracks such as "Open Wide" and "Deceiver" exist quite close to their original form, whereas a track like "Edge of One" was pulled from several different sources in the pre-production phase. At first it can be unsettling when you're told to cut out a certain section, or re-write something, or change an entire song from a major key to a minor key. But if you can check your ego and trust the experience of Nick the songs really start to improve." Vocalist Ross Crockett adds that, "after a few makeovers to certain songs, it can be rewarding when Nick listens to an entire song that you have written and arranged and does not insist on any changes." The project was completed in only three weeks at Powersound studios in Edmonton. So what has emerged from this three-week partnership? "Pushing Back at the Sun" is a ten-track tribute to the intoxication of guitars and drums with songs for the beach, bush party, and bedtime. Vocals that evoke the brashness of Robert Plant and Bono, while maintaining the emotional balance of Eddie Vedder and Ben Harper. A rhythm section that can roar with a distorted stomp or sooth with an echoing pulse. This band is difficult to define. Koan confidently treads the musical landscape it threatens to lead. Koan is a band that connects with people.