Rating: NNNN
Edmonton’s Mike Angus steps out from alt-countryish group the Wheat Pool (which he’s in with his brother Robb) for a solo album written over a couple weeks in Italy. Hymns is an accurate description for the collection, which has a spacious, prayer-like quality and would sound beautiful performed in a church.
This is presumably Angus showcasing his softer side, and reverb does make his voice sound more classical as he sings over slow fingerpicked guitar. (Great Lake Swimmers are not a bad comparison.) Themes are both personal and religious: laments over lost love mingle with speculations about representations of Christ and descriptions of Italy.
Thankfully, the disc is not sonically homogenous. Swallow It Whole is youthful and poppy, Scaffold Christ is full of digital sounds and samples, and the sleigh bells, strumming and falsetto vocals on Oh Rodeo! make it a wintery standout.
Top track: Scaffold Christ
