:: Nine Mile - The Almanac EP

Nine Mile

Canadian group Nine Mile’s latest offering, The Almanac EP, is short and sweet. The soulful Canadians feature D ‘Ari on vocals and acoustic guitar with his unique voice, David Tolley on percussion and Marie-Josee Dandeneau on electric and upright bass. The EP, with six songs, is one you‘ll like more and more each time you hear them. It’s hard not to, however, when the set has the lulling harmony of Xavier Rudd, a bit of Ben Harper’s soul, and a touch of Bob Sinclair, minus the aggressiveness. Their music has been described as incorporating rock, funk, Caribbean influence, yet ‘soul’ could be added there too. Lyrics are simple, beats are funky, earthy melodies - think of the way that Xavier Rudd uses his didgeridoo - and accompany soulful lyrics like, “I’m lucky just to be alive, even luckier now cos I get you by my side.” The fourth track, 'You Never Know’, is about life being fragile. Generally, the theme is of natural positives, with lyrics like “like an ice-cream on a summer’s day, the sun’s melting away” occurs throughout, which seems to simply reinforce Nine Mile’s appreciation for life, and its soulful urging in You Never Know to “treat each night like your last.” Some songs like Blind you can easily picture being the sound drop to a bygone era; early 60s perhaps, birds chirping, simple pushbikes and simple dreams of sunshine and peace. The whole album is softly inspiring - a quavering reggae beat with soft undertones of peace and chilled funk. Songs like Chase are quietly inspiring, “may you live forever if you choose to.” Picture yourself listening to these funky, soulful tunes this winter as you drink wine by an open fireplace.

This band to watch has recently finished an April/May Australian tour and has gone back to their rocky Canada, but will be back in Australia when they have made their full length album. Tour. The Almanac EP is a small album, a little taste of what is to come while Nine Mile writes their awaited feature length one. Simply, you will love every song and wish that the harmonious drawn out notes on the first song, Blind, went on forever.