Funeral Sky is the impressive debut album from Calgary’s Reuben in the Dark, produced by Florence and The Machine drummer Christopher Lloyd Hayden and Stephen Kozmeniuk (Madonna, Nicki Minaj), and mixed by Jim Abbiss (Adele, Arctic Monkeys). The band is fronted by Reuben Bullock and features four multi-instrumentalists, including his brother Distance (percussionist). Though Bullock only picked up a guitar when he was 21, it doesn’t show through the indie folk darkness and gothic gospel undertones of this album. The 11 tracks draw from his childhood experiences as the son of a traveling preacher with a journal of thoughts and emotions. The album starts of with a few uplifting tracks that border on the anthemic with infectious hooks and soaring harmonies. While the others are more subdued, all are lyrically rich and introspective, conjuring musical memories of a less-uppity Mumford and Sons. Standout tracks include “Marionette,” and “Rolling Stone,” with its rhythmic shifts and Black Sabbath-inspired guitar riff.
[rating:3.5]
– Michelle McChristie
