Gypsophilia

With Constellation, Halifax, NS's Gypsophilia continue to find new directions in gypsy swing. Sometimes they barely swing at all, which is often just as interesting. Not to say that they can't or won't swing, but there's usually a twist, such as with the grittily happy "Skirmish," featuring ring-modulated keyboard, distorted guitar and aggressive organ making the joyful bounce hit a little harder. The septet's biggest strengths are the writing and voicing of their material, with expansive chords livening up pretty melodies and unexpected changes. These play into a ballad such as "Valse Povero," a melancholy three-step with wistful piano that turns into something approaching space rock halfway through. Even "Super Bowl Party" is a delicate tune, until it veers into an affectionate "We Are the Champions" reference. All this is done without the use of a drum kit, which forces the rhythmic elements to be more inventive, even funky, as in "Bercy." There's a nice balance of good humour and experimentation that should appeal to a wide range of people at festivals and cafes alike.