Timber Timbre — Timber Timbre

Timber Timbre is the brainchild of Torontonian Taylor Kirk, a cream-voiced eccentric folky who loves his reverb. His new self-titled album sounds like it was recorded in a spooky attic by a man locked in a cage and abandoned since he was seven, or maybe it was recorded in some decaying, gothic cathedral by the spirits of dead parishoners stuck in purgatory, or maybe in a dank cave with hydro. It's a quiet album where every note is meticulously considered and songs often only contain one melody (voice, violin, scratchy electric guitar, etc.) over a light rhythm pattern. It would be a lot eerier if Kirk didn't sound so much like Ron Sexsmith faking a Boston accent. Scaring the audience isn't the intention, though. There's a knowing half-smile behind each line, especially when "Until The Night Is Over" references "House Of The Rising Sun." It doesn't matter how slow and quiet Timber Timbre gets, since Kirk always sounds like he's having a good time. While "No Bold Villain"," "Trouble Comes Knocking" and "Magic Arrow" are great tracks, "We'll Find Out" is my favourite because it sounds like Arcade Fire on a snow day.

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