The Olympic Symphonium

This Fredericton, NB outfit play downtempo folk pop that nearly gets lost behind its unassuming façade. Although the arrangements on their third album are heavy on vocal harmonies, they're light on everything else: a whisper of banjo, the rumble of double bass, the subtle chiming of a piano. These songs are restrained and feather-light, resulting in an album that takes a while to warm up. Although hesitant opener "Bad Habits" is underwhelming, it leads into two engaging, harmony-laden numbers with muted melodies and swirling atmosphere. The band hit their stride with "Settle Down," a spacious country-folk rambler with a touch of twang. The lovely, waltz-tempoed "A Lot to Learn" and the crisp, sparkling "Cold and Blue" further confirm the Symphonium's flair for songwriting. Although the band's charms hang modestly back upon first acquaintance, they'll reward the determined listener with a generous offering of gentle musical bliss.