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Brent MacDonald
Thomas Jefferson once said, "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." Nearly 200 years after the former president's death, the Fredericton-based band The Fussy Part could say the same thing.

Up to its ears in debt and about to launch a tour of the East Coast and Ontario in support its first EP, the band's story echoes that of many other do-it-yourself groups in New Brunswick, struggling to find support beyond its East Coast fan base.

Luckily, they got a break.

Earlier this week, Ben EP, its five-song debut release, was launched in more than 250 retail outlets, including HMV, Chapters and ITunes. This healthy distribution came about through the band's association with Indie Pool, a Canadian company that tries to keep the cost of releasing new material for independent artists down, which the band enlisted to manufacture its disc.

"We got lucky," said Fussy Part bassist Kyle Cunjak during a recent interview in Fredericton. He explained that when they registered with Indie Pool, the company had a special offer in place that allowed for such a wide-ranging distribution deal.

But it wasn't luck, but, rather, raw talent and hard work that got them to that point in the first place.

The band is a who's who of the New Brunswick indie music scene. Its humble and often hilarious members help make up eight other New Brunswick bands, including Grand Theft Bus and All of Green.

The band formed after Cunjak and Grand Theft Bus drummer Bob Deveau started talking about writing experimental music together a couple of years ago. Initially they collaborated electronically, e-mailing song ideas to one another. Nick Cobham joined later, followed by guitar player Stephen Dunn. Dennis Goodwin was added on keys to round out the collective. In February, drummer Andrew Butler will join the band for a couple of live shows in their hometown.

"It wasn't as serious in the beginning," said Cobham. "It was just friends getting together when they could." But this isn't your typical group of pals getting together for the occasional jam. Most of the bands they play in have toured relentlessly and some have national followings.

Despite the various other commitments of its members, though, The Fussy Part have put out a rock-solid debut album, as timely as it is original. Released in the wake of the breakup of the popular Toronto-based super group Broken Social Scene, you get the feeling The Fussy Part could perhaps slide into this recently vacated place.

The mostly instrumental album combines spacey electronic atmospherics, real and electronic drums, distorted guitars, synthesizer and bass. Near You, the only song with vocals, will leave fans begging for more.

On this track, Cobham's vocals shake as they trail off, making the lyrics beautiful in their imperfection. You believe every word he says before this powerhouse of a song ends in a thundering finale of guitars and effects.

The album is daring, especially by East Coast standards. Cunjak acknowledged the difficulty bands like his have in finding support among industry elites who promote and market New Brunswick-based musicians.

So difficult, in fact, that The Fussy Part could have been in real trouble if luck hadn't entered into the equation a second time.

This week, Music New Brunswick will launch the Forward Music Group, a new management company that will help make, promote and market music that the organization hasn't traditionally focused on. The Fussy Part, along with All of Green and Chillin' Room, are among the first few bands to enlist, a number Cunjak predicted will quickly grow.

In the meantime, Cunjak and Cobham said the rest is up to them. These days their biggest challenge is finding time to play together.

"We really don't see each other that often," said Cobham, adding that they're lucky to find time to practice once a week.

But, they're "all just kind of used to each other," he said, attributing their cohesiveness to various members playing together in other bands.

Even still, Cobham said he's as excited as ever about this new band.

"It feels like we're just starting."