Little Suns
Album: Normal Human Feelings
Label: Divergent
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.littlesuns.ca/

If you want to know how travelling broadens your horizons then take a listen to Little Suns first offering 'Normal Human Feelings'. It's also a good story. Once there was a band out of Ontario called Dry River Caravan. The bands John Aaron Cockburn; nephew of Canadian folk singer Bruce Cockburn, and Robin Meyer-MacLeod played wandering troubadours in Romania and Hungary soaking up the musical culture of both countries. On their return to Ontario they weaved their new found influences into the band's sound. They moved to Montreal, signed a record deal with a major Canadian independent label and decided to change the name of the band to Little Suns with exactly the same personnel.

Recorded with backing from the Canadian government there via the country's Music Fund (If they can do it why can't we?), 'Normal Human Feelings' is the band's first offering. The core quintet of the fore-mentioned Mr. Cockburn (accordion, piano, guitars, harmonium, Wurlitzer vocals) and Robin Meyer-MacLeod (clarinet) with Matt Smith (bouzouki), Liam Smith (drums, percussion backup vocals) and Daniel Greval (upright and electric bass) are augmented by producer Leon Tahemy (keyboards, electric guitar, percussion; string arranger Raphael Weinroth-Browne( Strings & Cello), Ross Davison (saxophone, uilleann pipes), Evan Runge ( Violin) and Brownman (Trumpet). Not your usual instrumental line up for a band then. The album package from the sleeve to the cd itself follows this non-pigeonhole tract with the album drawing influences from the travels of Cockburn and Macleod, modern rock, Americana, alt folk, big band, world and pop. Think of The Divine Comedy/The Duckworth Lewis Method with heavy eastern European influences and you will have a good idea of how 'Normal Human Feelings' sounds.

It's not your standard "to drive to" album and demands the listener to concentrate solely on pinning back the lugholes to really appreciate the multi layers of each track and the interwoven soundscapes captured within.

The nearly eight minute opener 'Sunboat' is like a three course meal in one track. A starter of staccato clarinet lead over lush strings before bursting into the mains of Hispanic anthemic alt-pop: think Gloria Estefan with male vocals and you will be getting close, the dessert of gypsy inspired Romanian brass, a sip of Philip Glass and finally another mouthful of Romania.

The travelling spirit continues into the second track 'Overnite Flite' with its uplifting pop melody and the chamber pop of Divine Comedy. This continues with the next two tracks 'Where Do People Go When They Go Away' and 'Black Elephant'. Both have dark melancholic intros and both would sit easily into Radio Two playlist especially 'Black Elephant' with its vagabond jingle.

The album goes off kilter with itself for the next two tracks. 'Wake Up' starts off with a subtle killer guitar intro and the guitar remains the dominant instrument on the track. The beautiful and haunting piano opening of 'Antichrist' takes me way back to tinkering on pianos in Church Halls. The album returns to "normality" with the gypsy/Turkish dance feel of 'Them Girls', the decadence of 'Child of the Night' and its brass middle eight which I'm sure I heard at Cambridge Folk Festival a couple of years ago, and the closer 'Istanbul'.

Normal Human Feelings has its own unique eclectic charm. There is a zest of life, poignancy and exuberance in abundance as well as beautiful orchestrated soundscapes and complex arrangements. Its perfect for drawing the curtains on these cold winter nights snuggling down in front of the fire letting the songs take you to warmer climates. Not my normal cup of tea but could I have more…. please?

Chris Light