Spun: The Wheat Pool

By Sydney Stokoe

Hauntario, the second album from Edmonton quartet The Wheat Pool, is a teaspoon of country and a dash of alternative, with a healthy dose of crooning love songs and nostalgia.

Their indie-folk poetry certainly won’t wake you up on a Monday morning, but it delivers a bit of a kick to your heart and soul. Emotional and longing, the songs seem to call out from history. The album is all about the subtle details, with haunting pedal steel and detailed, story-like lyrics.

The majority of the tracks are guitar-driven, although they do employ a variety of sounds, including pedal steel, while piano, organ and handclaps are also on many tracks.

While maintaining the country feel of their first album, Township, the band has dropped some of the rock element and moved to a more rootsy style. They’ve slowed their tempo and softened their sound somewhat, offering listeners of Ray LaMontagne or Luke Doucet something for their ears.