Gentleman Reg

Considering Reg Vermue’s commitments as a Hidden Camera and occasional member of Broken Social Scene, one might find it surprising that he found the time to record his third album, let alone one as exquisitely crafted as Darby & Joan.

D&Jis Vermue’s fullest release to date. The introverted wallflower who channelled the spirit of Nick Drake on his previous outing, 2002’s delicately beautiful Make Me Pretty, has blossomed musically with a little help with his friends, including his Three Gut labelmates, members of Kepler and Sloan’s Jay Ferguson.

While he does returns to the Drake-isms that informed his early recordings on the album’s haunting closer ‘Navy Brown’ and the pretty ‘Untouchable’, Vermue lets us know we’re in for something different right out of the gate with ‘Bundle’, a damn near flawless pop song. Vermue’s at times morose lyrics are offset by the buoyant musical arrangements, particularly on the bittersweet ‘The Boyfriend Song’, where Vermue bemoans not having a boyfriend or any money while the band provides an upbeat country accompaniment. The absolutely gorgeous ‘All My Love’ is one of the album’s many highlights. Vermue’s pained sounding vocals and the track’s lush musical backdrop tug at the listener’s heartstrings.

Simply put, Darby & Joan is an achingly beautiful masterpiece that you’d be hard pressed not to fall in love with.