( Saved By Radio, Oct. 2, 2007)

If there’s a musician that I enjoy glorifying in a positive review it’s Nathan Lawr. Whether as part of the Fembots and Royal City, or as touring drummer for the Constantines (who recently signed to Arts & Crafts, by the way), this humble and talented artist has had a hand in creating some fantastic music, a trend that has thankfully also extended to his solo career. Speaking of which, A Sea of Tiny Lights, Lawr’s third full length outing, is no exception, as it’s an impressive and satisfying record indicative of the continual growth and overall potential of one of Canada’s most underrated—and bashful—musicians.

Granted, supporters of Lawr never expected anything less from a new release bearing his name, we’ve just been waiting—as has he, I suppose—for everyone else to catch on. That said, A Sea of Tiny Lights is poised to deliver from the get-go, as album opener, the rollicking and infectious “Righteous Heart,” sets the tone early, while also establishing the essential presence of long-time contributors and friends, the Minotaurs, in the mix.

Of course, including the likes of Kate Maki, Dave MacKinnon (The Fembots) and Andy Magoffin (The Two-Minute Miracles), you’d be hard pressed to call these guys a simple backing band in the first place, and boy do they earn the cover mention. In fact, with only the delicate and largely acoustic “Oh No!” being offered up with minimal accompaniment, the record comes across as predominantly a family affair, ultimately aiding to create an album that is easily Lawr’s most confident and consistent to date.

Driven by a characteristically understated and self-aware vocal delivery, and buoyed by steady contributions from the Minotaurs, A Sea of Tiny Lights also demonstrates a good deal of growth from past efforts. Where 2005’s Secret Carpentry may have contained an undeniable lead-single in the form of “Bury Me Blues,” and his 2003 debut, The Heart Beats a Waltz, was able to charm with its softer numbers (“We Go Down” will always be a favourite of mine), A Sea of Tiny Lights builds on those strengths respectively with songs like the aforementioned lead-track and the charming “Swimming like a Needle in the Haystack of the Sea” while also establishing a more coherent whole.

Indeed, with this latest record Nathan Lawr has easily cemented his growing reputation as a gifted songwriter to those already in the know—here’s hoping it also helps to bring a few more well-deserved supporters his way.

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Take a listen to a track from the album below (right-click, “Save Link As” to download):

Nathan Lawr & the Minotaurs - Righteous Heart

Check out his Myspace page to hear a few more, or buy his albums digitally here. Also, you can catch Nathan Lawr & the Minotaurs live at the Supermarket in Toronto on Oct. 18.