WIND UP RADIO SESSIONS play the Central on June 13 as part of NXNE. See listing. Rating: NNN
The members of Montreal-based Wind Up Radio Sessions come from different places brothers Marc and Dan Kiely are from Dundas, Ontario, while Matt Lazenby is from the UK. Their sophomore disc (which also features Dave Crosbie) similarly draws from varied sources: folky indie rock, fuzzy guitar jams, 60s pop and psychedelia.
It’s an endearingly laid-back listen, with introspective lyrics and loose backup vocals. But its greatest strength is also its biggest shortcoming: the first two songs – confident and welcoming Little Bird and new-wavy surprise Backporch – are so promising that the rest come as a bit of a disappointment.
At least they got the bookends right: acoustic Blades Of Grass trails off as the perfect closer.
Top track: Little Bird
