Montreal artist Everly Lux’s unique take on folk music is armed with extended cello ideas and modular synth, plus other instruments, for these 14 distinct songs that bring in some friends as well.
The soft ambience of “Sun Song” begins the listen with Lux’s gentle voice and warm guitar that takes help from Audréanne Fillion’s cello and Coralie Gauthier’s harp amid much intimacy. “Old Joy” and “ease” follow. The former has Lux hitting some high notes alongside cozy twinkling, and the latter invites chamber ideas into the layered and rich climate.
A couple of guest vocalists appear later on. André Charles Thériault contributes to the more firm and atmospheric gestures of “Three-legged Dog,” while Ben Kepes is present for “sorry u have thin blood,” a cryptic spoken word piece with minimal instrumentation.
Deeper onto the back half, the vulnerable spirit of “ledge” offers an emotive moment surrounded by calm background noises, and “Anteroom” takes a similar path via the hypnotic guitar line and heartfelt singing that tugs on the heartstrings while discussing much needed subject matter.
Close to the end, “nature has a way to greet me” blends poetry and mesmerizing guitar, and “do(n’t) u think...?” exits with a 17-second flash that seems like an outtake from a song yet to be finished.
Also on hand are Bennett Dobni (synth, bass, drums) and Devon Bate (guitars, piano, electronics), who help Lux find a very unique place to reside in modern day indie-folk that balances serenity and intensity at the same time. Her music iss sometimes eerie, other times cinematic, and the wispy experimental ideas sure are appreciated, as the Canadian floats somewhere between folk, pop and rock in a way that just makes you want to take a road trip.