Kepler are yet another excellent Canadian band and this is their third album. Poised somewhere between Nada Surf and Elbow, Kepler make beautiful, yearning music that shades its eyes against the cold, steely dawn.

'Attic Salt' is sanguine, a description far more apt than say, deep or dark... and it sums up life's surprises in much the same way way as the old Peggy Lee song, 'Is that all there is?'. The honky-tonk plonks and a guitar twinkles for opener 'Broken Bottles Blackened Hearts', which is followed by the deceptively chirpy 'Thoroughbred Gin'. Both songs have a deep sense of disillusionment coursing through them, stirred by the hollow promises of rock 'n' roll or sweet company.

The only time a rebellious, straight-up, antisocial stand is made is on 'Days Of Begging' - "Now I carry a knife or a screwdriver / 'cause I never know when I'll have to stick a motherfucker." Even here, if you're not really paying attention, you'd be forgiven for thinking these words are non-controversial or possibly even tender, such is the cool blooded delivery. It's surprising then, to find couched here a bona fide single in 'You Must Admit'. It's 60s syncopated soul at heart but it's a heart seared by insincerity, taking us back to bad sex territory, à la Arab Strap.

But what _is_ Attic Salt?

According to the Nuttall Encyclopaedia no less, this dinky phrase refers to a "pointed and delicate wit", but best consider Attic in the sense of Ancient Greek Attica, because humour from a tiny roof space it ain't. But it is deeply beautiful, haunting and memorable.