Billed as something of a tribute record to the music of their home state Kentucky, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore’s Dear Companion is a soft acoustic record that flirts well with its Appalachian heritage. Consisting of songs built primarily around Sollee’s cello and Moore’s acoustic guitar, the record is a joy to listen too, despite of its total lack of roughage featuring very little, if any, dissonance or risky harmonic structures. It’s a safe record that includes highlights such as the Sollee composition “My Wealth Comes to Me” and Moore’s “Sweet Marie.” The two know what their strengths are—solid vocal harmonies accompanied by gentle instrumentation—and use them well. Thus, while Dear Companion certainly won’t ever blow your mind, it certainly won’t disappoint either. (Sub Pop, www.subpop.com) Jeff Friesen
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989