MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: SARAH MACDOUGALL - ALL THE HOURS I HAVE LEFT TO TELL YOU ANYTHING

MacDougall is so talented, she has two countries claiming her; Canada, where she now lives, and her birthplace, Sweden, where she's considered one of the country's best songwriters. Too bad, Swedes, as she now lives way up north in Whitehorse. Of course, between Sweden and the Yukon, she's bound to have people searching for icy and isolated themes, but I'd say there's a lot more warmth to her songwriting, certainly an empathy for humanity. The songs on her fourth album go through the ups and downs of life, from years that seem too long, to moments (like the birth of a child) that go past way too fast. She's not afraid of making big statements, such as "I love you like the sky loves a bird," the kind that make you stop and take in the words.

There's an epic, wide-open feel to the music, which I guess is the most northern aspect to find. If left alone, these would be gentle folk songs, but the grand production from Montreal's Marcus Paquin adds a largeness to the music, to counter the intimacy of her interesting voice, slightly quirky in a Jane Siberry way, and tender too. They even manage a Euro-dance beat in the closer Shed No Tears For Me. Give it up Sweden, we're not letting go of her now.