Katie Moore

The songs on Montreal singer-songwriter Katie Moore's sophomore album are luscious creations filled with quiet passion and elegance. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, the album is a fine reward for the fans that stepped up to help make it happen. Backed by some of Montreal's best ― artists such as Chilly Gonzales, Warren C. Spicer and Matthew Woodley of Plants and Animals ― Moore makes excellent use of the talent she attracts. Loose rhythms and rambling arrangements feature sudden spurts of flute and dollops of sultry piano and organ. With its folky undertones, the album is rural at heart, but splashes of electric guitar and textured, high-key percussion give it an urban vibe. A handful of covers, including a tremulous version of Anna McGarrigle's heartbreaking "Heart Like a Wheel," supplement Moore's increasingly adept songwriting. This is an album that goes down easy, but don't be fooled: Montebello is a work of substance.