STREET SOUNDS: Never judge an album by its cover

Calgary pop outfit Candelora has just released its self-titled album.

Calgary pop outfit Candelora has just released its self-titled album.

Calgary pop/rock quartet, Candelora’s debut recording appears to take a few stylistic cues from the 1990s.

The band’s self-titled album features an unflattering close-up shot of an old man’s face (in the style of ‘90s grunge fixations) on the cover.  But on to the music – and this calls to mind ‘90s pop stars Savage Garden.

If radio play of the middle-of-the road persuasion is your pleasure, then here is your poison.

Candelora’s sound is light and melody driven, carried along by the ballad-friendly vocals of Mike Ferraro.

Ferraro’s sound is smooth, no rough edges, and the band’s atmospheric pop sound is a clever match,  a creative and upbeat style of hook-powered material (Red Northern Lights).

A darker take on Candelora’s bright and shiny sound is the acoustic/electric riff-centric track, 1959.

The dirge-like guitar line, courtesy of Cory Klapper, memorably uplifts the song’s minor chord mood and offsets Ferraro’s lyrics. The group explores this theme further on Outland Serenade, but without the intensity displayed in 1959, instead opting to build to a jangling crescendo.

As atmospherics and a reflective view linger around the edges of the songs, the bulk of the material on Candelora is on the moody side of the pop/rock spectrum.

A Conscious Heart rings out with intertwined guitars and keys for a chilly love song. After this, it’s back to the bright side jingle rock of Trophy Hunter.

Candelora’s album is an interesting mix of pop and lightly moody rock with the latter more compelling.

–– Dean Gordon-Smith is The Morning Star’s music reviewer. His column, Street Sounds,  appears every Friday.

Vernon Morning Star