The Most Serene Republic is a Canadian band formed on the Arts and Crafts label -- best known for Broken Social Scene--and by extension Feist. But don't compare them to those performers and don't compare them to Yes, Radiohead, Oasis or Death Cab For Cutie.

"I find all those comparisons lazy." says Ryan Lenssen,

And he is right, while such comparisons may get at a part of the band's sound and feel none of them are a terribly accurate straight up comparison.

The Most Serene Republic are the first band on the label not connected to Broken Social Scene and have two full length recordings out -- Underwater Cinematographer (2004) and Population (2007). They also released an EP in 2006 titled, Phages. Gearwire spoke to Lenssen about his gear but he was a little cagey (and not being terribly serious).

"I don't want to give away any of my magic secrets -- and music is very much magic." he says.

He plays a Roland RD 700SX 88 key, weighted key, keyboard live.

"It is a stage piano, stage Rhodes equivalent," says Lenssen. "For my second I play a Korg Triton LL 61 key. I use that for organs, "

He says the Tritons have great organ sounds.

The Roland has two grand piano sample-sets, with 88 key multi-samples, 128-voice polyphony, a three band parametric EQ with graphic interface and a whole slew of other features. They list for around $2,500 (but remember, don't pay list). The venerable Tritons, in addition to great organ sounds, now have 64 MB of PCM data which is about twice the size of the original. It also has a 48 kHz sampling frequency which is better than CD standard. The Keyboard currently lists at just above $1,600 (with an "extreme" model listing at $2,800).

As noted these are what Lenssen uses live. The studio is a different story.

"When recording I use a real piano, and I try to use a '73 rhodes when I can," he says. "All of our stuff -- we try to keep it organic"

And even though some bands do it, hauling a Rhodes around to play live is a huge pain the butt. One problem is the possibility of breaking it.

"It is way too much trouble. I play keys in splay fingered fashion -- percussive piano. I would break it." says Lenssen,

He has broken them before. He broke a piano, his previous RD700sx (on tour) and also a Triton studio workstation.

"They do not make things strong enough for us fat fingered folks" he says.

Hear that manufacturers? Build a anodized aircraft aluminum weighted key keyboard already! My goodness, what are you waiting for?

More with Lenssen on Roland versus Rhodes soon.