Ten years and a tragedy. That’s what post-rock group Caspian bore on the creation of Dust and Disquiet, their latest full-length album. Formed in 2005, the band subsequently released three full-length albums to critical acclaim. (Spin called their 2012 release Waking Season — their last before D&D — “the best post-rock album of the year.”)  Then their founding bassist Chris Friedrich died. Dust and Disquiet was a “move to reclaim for ourselves why it is that we do all this: Music is our strongest antidote to feelings of emptiness and disquiet,” said guitarist Phil Jamieson. Alongside guitarists Cal Joss, drummer Joe Vickers, guitarists Erin Burke-Moran and Jonny Ashburn, and bassist Jani Zubkovs, Caspian keep on making music to convey stories via song structures and dynamics. And after 673 shows as a band, they've gotten quite good at it. Guitarist Burke-Moran talks to Myspace about wanting to collaborate with Daft Punk, what he wants for Christmas, and the time his bandmate refereed a midget boxing match in the Philippines.

Hometown: Born in Hampton, Virginia but consider New London, Connecticut as my hometown.

Homebase: Beverly, Massachusetts. A beautiful, seaside town north of Boston.

How do you describe Caspian’s music to someone who's never heard you before?

We play classical music like symphonies but we’re a rock band. We don’t sing very much (hardly at all) but our instruments take on that role. It’s a cinematic experience.

Your latest album is called Dust and Disquiet. What does it mean?

It was written during a period of restlessness and confusion. We all went through a lot over the last few years and this album was our way of exploring those places we’d been and finding peace or as much of it as we could. The title of the record reflects that sentiment.

How did you and your bandmates meet?

Most of us met in college. I joined the band after it had been together for a few years. I think the guys really started a band because they liked playing music and they liked doing that together. It was that simple. That’s still why we make music today.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

(Personally) I really enjoyed the band Muse in college and, of course, was obsessed with Radiohead for a while but I studied classical guitar in college also and I think that is really my biggest influence. I love the works by Bach that have been arranged for guitar and many other composers. There are so many passages in classical music that I would never come up with but I get to experience because of the music.

Does being from Massachusetts influence you creatively?

Like I said, we live by the ocean, so I think that your surroundings play a lot into your sound (along with your experience) and some say parts of our music are quite oceanic. It’s also a driven area and I think that drive has been instilled in us and is part of what makes us work so hard for this band.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I’ve never told anyone this before and I don’t think it will ever happen, but… Daft Punk.

Tell us your craziest concert story so far.

There was this one time, in the Philippines, when one of the guys in the band refereed a midget boxing match. That’s funny enough but it’s even richer when you know he’s 6’7”.

What was the biggest thing to happen to you this year?

Releasing this record. It’s spun us off and into a fresh touring cycle. And the last couple of months were totally crazy. Some of our best shows ever and some wonderful venues. It was like a dream.

Lastly, what are you asking for this Christmas? Let’s hope Santa is reading this.

More effects pedals. I don’t have enough yet.