Trent Severn

What a treat. Ontario band Trent Severn combine the talents of Emm Gryner, Dayna Manning and Laura C. Bates into a gorgeous, harmony-driven debut that's as Canadian as Tommy Douglas. Three-part harmonies and brooding undertones give the album's opener an all-girl CSNY vibe, but the mood quickly lifts with "Bluenose on a Dime," a track that features Joel Plaskett on vocals and guitar. The release is jam-packed with Canadiana. With references to Kate McGarrigle, Brian Mulroney, parkas and northern lights, the album traverses the country — from the Arctic to Revelstoke, BC and then right on back to the LCBO. They even slip in references to hockey players and maple trees, all of which might come off as hopelessly hokey if they weren't so beautifully written. The trio's upbeat folk is guitar-driven, with a touch of banjo and a hint of the East coast in the occasional fiddle embellishments. Joyful, musically flawless and warmly patriotic, Trent Severn's debut is a doozy.