MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: GREGORY HOSKINS & GARY CRAIG - THE MAP OF ABOVE THE MAP OF BELOW

Sweet-voiced vet Hoskins teams up with go-to drummer Craig for this sublime disc, full of radiant, laid-back numbers.  Each highlights Hoskins' writing and singing, with simple but rich backing.  Craig sets the groove, Hoskins drops in evocative guitar lines with rich harmonies, and then we get carried along in the words and voice.

Sorry for the obvious comparison, but there's a bounty here for fans of Paul Simon.  Images rush at us, as we're placed inside conversations and observations, scenes of life laid out for us in first person:  "I am crippled by doubt in this house that is not my home."  Hoskins' high-pitched voice adds drama the further up the scale he goes.  The interplay between guitar and vocals will make you think about Jeff Buckley too. Craig meanwhile is all subtlety on the kit, putting just as much mood into each song.  The percussion is right up front in the mix, but surprisingly quiet too, and full of sound personality.  He's recorded so well here, the kind of mastery found on the several discs he's done with Colin Linden (who drops by for a guest appearance on slide on one cut).  Two big Canadian talents at the top of their games here.