Waxing Romantic (LP)

Coming of age in Edmonton, there must not have been much for young Travis Bretzer to do but listen to every record ever released on Captured Tracks, and maybe a few on Mexican Summer, the label that eventually signed him. That and do a little research into the bands that influenced some of the poppier artists on the label; bands like Orange Juice and Felt, for example. His first EP, Making Love, showed the results of his studies, sounding like a warped take on his influences. By the time of his first album, Waxing Romantic, Bretzer's music had taken a leap forward, both sonically and in the songwriting. With production help from Jorge Elbrecht of the band Violens, the album has a warm sound, filled with reverb and the kind of surprising musical moments (like the Felt-ish guitars on “Idle By” or the 10cc-ish keys on “Lonely Heart”) that make the album really come to life. They also help to add a little weirdness to Bretzer's simple and true love songs.