The Wooden Sky
Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun
(Black Box Recordings/Fontana North)

Canada is a country overflowing with talented, epic bands. With their third LP, The Wooden Sky have earned the right to be grouped in with Arcade Fire, Stars, and the others that make the Great White North so prosperous musically. For your folk kick, look no further than this band.

Whereas these musical peers veer toward the indie side, The Wooden Sky dabbles in country tones without getting too sentimental or twangy. “Angelina,” for instance, is a swelling tale of longing and loss. “Dancing at My Window” is stripped-back and vulnerable, with frontman Gavin Gardiner’s plaintive tones carrying the thrust of the song.

“I’mYour Man,” however, carries rock intensity as Gardiner begs for forgiveness for his former mistakes. “Malibu Rum” is another moment that defies categorization, driven by percussion and backing vocals that seem hauntingly distant, as though stolen from a vintage recording.

By the time the album gets to “Angelina (Reprise),” an emotional journey has taken its toll. We have experienced Gardiner’s loss and regret, pain and determination. It’s like returning to a warm cabin after a long walk in the cold wilderness. In this sense, the band is able to revisit this track with a heavier heart, though it is no less exquisite. Fans of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver will be able to find much to enjoy about Every Child a Daugher, Every Moon a Sun.