Astralwerks
2006
Small Sins
About This Album
Although Small Sins may be classified as indie electronica -- which wouldn't be wrong: nearly all of the elements that regulate that distinction are present in the group's debut album -- there's also a living quality to their music that is often missing in that of many of their peers. Perhaps this comes from the fact that singer, songwriter, and main instrumentalist Thomas D'Arcy has spent most of his life in Canada; cold is a part of his life. But instead of letting it control him, he has embraced it (the band performs in all white and both of Small Sins' album covers are mostly white) and not surrendered to it (despite the almost hysterical cries in the chorus of "We Won't Last the Winter"), learning how to accept it and use it to his advantage. He has found the bit of warmth that exists within it and that keeps everything from freezing over completely. Not that this is tepid music; rather, it's more like a day of sun in the middle of January, a reminder that there's something else. D'Arcy's choruses especially convince listeners of this: they're catchy and friendly; they're almost soulful with vocal layering and simple with repeating phrases and ideas; they get their point across without pounding it in painfully.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,7,10 and 11)

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