Henri Faberge and the Adorables

We love orchestral indie collectives as much as the next guy, but do they always have to be so… gloomy? Enter Henri Faberge and the Adorables. The Toronto band’s sunny self-titled debut is nothing short of exuberant. Even the heaviest of subjects — shattered hearts, pregnancy scares and extra-marital affairs — are tackled with levity and a good-natured goofiness. Yet for all the humour and child-like abandon on this record, there is more than enough substance to keep it grounded. The song structures are deceptively complex and the lyrics dangerously clever. The stick-to-your-ribs melodies have the habit of running tirelessly through your head all night long and greet you immediately upon waking the next day. From the sing-along strains of "Ventriloquist Love” to the life-affirming gospel hoedown that is "The Goddamn Light,” this album commands your attention from start to finish. And here’s a secret: their live show is even more enthralling. Henri Faberge and the Adorables may well be the fuse that will make Toronto explode.