OKgiraffe

The BC transplants in Okgiraffe must feel much more at home in their adopted city of Montreal than they ever did on the west coast. With its heavy blend of cultures and high sense of drama, Montreal is a fitting backdrop for the band's unique brand of urban gypsy soul, a sound that's far more martini-and-cigarettes than soy-latte-and-weed. On their debut album, the hypnotic drone of the band's dual double basses is counterbalanced by the catchy shuffle of Latin-jazz-inspired drums. They combine equal measures of soul and funk, adding the occasional kick of hip-hop-style vocals for extra flavour. The ominously murmuring double bass of the opening track picks up speed and momentum as the album progresses, making way for guitar and sassy accordion on several tracks. Rosa Smedley's soulful vocals lift tracks like "Let Them Go" and make them fly.