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Earlier this year Arts & Crafts celebrated its 10th anniversary with the one-day festival Field Trip, which featured performances by the likes of Broken Social Scene and Feist.
Toronto’s Darcys are the clear heirs to the record label’s throne post-BSS, though if they’re feeling that pressure, they haven’t shown it yet.
Building on the momentum of their winding first album and last year’s dark reinterpretation of Steely Dan’s classic Aja, Warring offers more of the hardworking group’s heavily textured post-rock. Just when you think you have their sound pinned down, there’s the gorgeous piano ballad The Pacific Theatre halfway through, followed by the surprisingly danceable Pretty Girls. If you need proof of lead singer Jason Couse’s vocal talents, look no further than the closing seconds of 747s, which feels almost like a gospel confession.
With Warring, the Darcys aren’t merely content to be one of the best rock bands in Toronto. Ambition looks good on them.
Top track: The Pacific Theatre
The Darcys play Adelaide Music Hall on October 11.
