WHO ARE THEY? Whitby native Kat Burns came up with the concept of Forest City Lovers back in 2005 when she found herself with a handful of airy art-folk songs that she was loath to release as a solo artist. Instead, she rifled through a posse of talented pals to help her flesh out the aching, string-laced compositions that wound up on 2006’s The Sun and the Wind before settling down with the current incarnation of Forest City Lovers, which features roommate Mika Posen on strings and backing vocals, bassist Kyle Donnelly and, following the departure of Paul Weadick, temporary percussionist Steve Lappano. Save Lappano, all these players — and about 13 guests, including members of Ohbijou and Snailhouse — show up on Forest City Lovers’ beautiful new Haunting Moon Sinking disc. Compared to its predecessor, it’s a warm, strikingly strong collection of tunes that range from glockenspiel- and synth-accented orchestral pop (“Sudden Seas”) to haunting cabaret-folk in pastel tones (“Pirates (All Can’t Sail the Indian Ocean)”) to gentle alt-country (“Charlottetown”).
I SEE SOME FAMILIAR NAMES — IS THIS AN OHBIJOU SIDE PROJECT? Though Bellwoods anchors Heather Kirby and Jamie Bunton produced Haunting, those kids just happen to be some of Burns and co.’s “nearest and dearest friends,” and occasional tourmates. The whole cabal teamed up for an east-coast tour back in ’06, which happened to be the first time Burns had ever seen the ocean.
NOTES FROM THE DARK SIDE Despite Burns’ polished vocals, which are the aural equivalent of a cozy hug from someone who smells of vanilla, chai and bergamot, and Posen’s lilting violin and viola arrangements, The Sun and the Wind had a curious darkness to it, due in part to the fixation with mortality and absence threaded through Burns’ lyrics. She insists that rumours of her death wish have been greatly exaggerated.
“A lot of people — well, mostly the bandmates — tease me about how The Sun and the Wind was mostly about death. I don’t really see it that way, although some songs were inspired by things happening around me, and perhaps those experiences took over more than what I thought, and came out in other ways. There’s definitely a longing throughout that record.”
Burns claims the songs on Haunting Moon Sinking are more clear-headed. “Many were written to solve things that were going on at the time. This album also deals with losses, emotions and sudden independence, but in a different way. There are also songs about places we’ve been and people we’ve met, and experiences we’ve had along the way.”
MORE THAN A HIPPIE OUTFIT
Though the tunes on The Sun and the Wind were firmly anchored in a tentative folk approach, Burns’ new work encompasses a much broader range of styles. “I went through a little period of listening to my grandma’s old folk-music records from Poland and Russia and getting inspired by the interesting arrangements. Mika was really into gypsy music for a good few months — there are very interesting string parts in that style of music. On tour, Kyle and I like to indulge and force the others to listen to Tegan and Sara, and sometimes we can rock a good Dr. Dre song in the van. I hold a high regard for those who can write a good song, regardless of genre.” SARAH LISS