From Giants’ new EP This Burden is Light is another addition to the growing body of excellent Manitoba folk. Recorded at MCM Studies at Canadian Mennonite College, and Private Ear Studios, the debut release from this quartet is complex, questioning, thoughtful and courageous – what I’d like to describe as contemplative tall-grass folk. While the album doesn’t subscribe to one overarching theme or motif, lead singer and lyricist Jaymie Friesen has said that the album focuses on themes of wanting to be healed and wanting to be whole. Undoubtedly, this definitely shines through and creates cohesion in the uniqueness of each song. The opening track, “My Family Will Sing” is a base on which to lift and immerse your ears into the various parts of the album. Jaymie’s vocals and lyrics glide throughout, while the banjo and guitar parts weave together a certain quirky uniqueness, and it all finds depth in the deep cello of Nathan Kraus and drums of Gabrielle Neufeld (closing track “A Waltz and a Wander” is a personal favorite as well). Titled appropriately, the burden of the album is light itself, a glowing sense of understanding, as well as referring to the weight or lack thereof. Look foreword to the handmade cases (created by band members themselves). (Independent, myspace.com/fromgiants) Victoria King