INLET SOUND play the Horseshoe Saturday (October 27). See listing. Rating: NNN
On their debut album, Toronto-by-way-of-Hamilton folk-rockers Inlet Sound wear their influences on their sleeves – notably the Weakerthans, the Decemberists and Mumford & Sons.
Produced by Laurence Currie (who’s worked with Wintersleep and Hey Rosetta!), The Romantics has an impressively lush sound for a debut. The core trio of vocalist/acoustic guitarist Michael Wexler, pianist Sean Hardy and multi-instrumentalist Steven Gore is backed by drums, bass, strings and French horn.
The band is best when busiest, as on brisk single Magnetic North. Wexler’s vocals are front and centre in the mix, a good thing, although his delivery can come across as cool.
The album lags in the middle, but there’s an admirable return to a musical theme on the reprise of the opening title track. Also, great cover artwork.
Top track: Magnetic North
