Lullaby North

With the release of Speak in Tongues, Ecuador-born, Toronto-based guitarist/composer Emilio Guim continues his unique fusing of jazz, rock and spoken word with his robust quartet, Lullaby North. He also adds a few extra players, including Kevin Turcotte (trumpet) and Doug Tielli (trombone), on two tracks each, plus saxes and an accordion. Pieces like "5 a.m. Hidden Parade" and "Whistle Brings Rain" each have idiosyncratic grooves and strong arrangements, with the lyrics in the latter track delivered with appealing, punk-ish, inconsistent tuning. Dylan Hillyer's spoken word delivery on "Words for Hire" has excellent timing and humour, while Guim's muscular guitar riff is 100-percent irresistible. The 12 tunes are grouped in three "tongues": hybrid, native with accent, and dirty — mysterious, evocative differentiations. Guim's "Birth of Days" is a stand out; it's an emotional solo guitar showpiece. Deftly balancing musical genres, Lullaby North are developing a genuine individual sound.