The Songs Which Are

This Toronto-based ensemble continue their exploration of musicalising the work of the late self-taught Nova Scotia poet Alden Nowlan, around which they first gathered and recorded in 2018. Where the resultant Songs of Bread, Wine and Salt was jazz-inflected, The Songs Which Are evokes both the alluring Celtic folk roots of Canada's Maritime Provinces and the stark commanding beauty of plainsong, conveyed in composer, guitarist and banjoist Pete Johnston's voicings and in the pure, tone-perfect solo and harmonised offerings of vocalists Mim Adams and Randi Helmers. The result is a fine fit for Nowlan's reflective, intensive and lovely versification, especially suiting the subject and structure of poems like ‘Sparrow Come in My Door’ and ‘Reunion’. However, ‘I, Icarus’ and ‘Biography’ are more like art songs, challenging both performers and listeners with unusual intervals, angular melody lines, and elastic meter. Rob Clutton's bass serves to secure the foundation, and Andrew Killawee's organ enhances the spirituality of ‘The Bhikku’. Words and music both reward a deep listen to this unusual offering.