by Matt Fink
Their second release of richly textured chamber pop, Halifax Pier makes nary a misstep on Put Your Gloves on and Wave. Gorgeously unfolding in layers of subdued cello, violin, twisting acoustic guitars, velvety electric guitars, and snaking basses, the loping arrangements bend and weave around vocalist Nathan Salsburg's overcast verse. Still, the dourly elegant and intricate mix does well to distract from the gloomy nature of Salsburg's imagery, allowing listeners to lose themselves in the unique nature of this morose orchestra. If any complaint can be leveled, it might be said that the songs suffer from a somewhat similar quality, as largely comparable textures are common to each track, yet repeated listens reveal the dazzling intricacy of the musicianship and ultimately allow each to take on their own identity. Breaking from the pack somewhat with a quasi-country-blues guitar line, "Lightly Noise" flows through turns in tempo and tune before ending up as a good-natured folk mantra. Haunted as it is haunting, saturated with longing and loss, Halifax Pier succeeds in finding understated beauty while keeping most of the cheery colors out of their musical collage.