“Time never seems to wait” – they even said it themselves, and its true. Impatience is inevitable. It’s something that, especially with todays’ generations, is becoming more and more common. This may be a big reason why some of the most popular (Beyonce, Drake) and best (Burial, Death Grips) names in music have decided to release albums with no warning at all. Or, perhaps it’s the reverse of such circumstances that have made listeners so impatient for new music, who’s to say. Either way, in the case of Toronto’s CAIRO, who have finally unleashed their first full-length effort A History of Reasons, the wait has been long but the results are easily worth it. A History of Reasons was produced by Nygel Asselin (Mother Mother, Half Moon Run) along with the band, and is their first effort on MapleMusicRecordings. On the surface, A History of Reasons contains a collection of strong melodic drives and catchy choruses, but a deeper dive into the lining of the record reveals a powerful emotional base, one that vocalist Nate Daniels has carefully crafted over 3 years.
While CAIRO are marketed and perform as a 4-piece, it has long been the project of lead man Nate Daniels, who’s personal lyrical mark is not only all over A History of Reasons, but the strongest element. Daniel’s could likely make it on his own as a solo singer songwriter, but when given the tight grooves of Matt Sullivan, and melodic backup of Dante Berardi and Caitlin Grieve the project turns into a force of its own. Moments like “Seventeen” are greatly catalyzed by instrumental additions, but still remain primarily engaging lyrically. Other singles like “With You” quickly show why Daniels is the head of the show – at times his voice booms through the entire mix, while at others it floats atop, gently gracing the instruments beneath it. Throughout the album’s lyrics, Daniels shows an embrace of eternal yearning through stories of separation, struggle, and lonliness, but manages to keep the music uplifting in the end. Daniels is complacent in his struggle for love, which is best displayed in the albums title-track – “A history of reasons won’t make me stop – I’d do it again”.
As A History of Reasons meanders along, it dips into many stylistic pools, but never quite settles. From the anthemic strikes in “Kingdoms” to the strong rhythmic swells of “Extinguishing Fires” to the bareness of “Nothing,” this is an album that not only takes you on an emotional journey, but an interesting musical one as well. In the time that it took to write, record and release the record, close to 3 years passed which is a large contributing factor to the spread shown on A History of Reasons. Through all of this, though, shines the earnest and completely heartfelt words of Daniels, which acts as the LP’s binding agent, bringing the entire picture into focus.
Having been mainstays in Toronto for years now, A History of Reasons may be the catalyst that finally gets CAIRO on the world map. This album is a series of emotionally driven songs with strong musical compositions, not unlike other Canadian successes like Owen Pallett or Bahamas. What sets CAIRO apart, though, is their ability to take from so many influences and still come out with a consistent product. It’s a powerful album in many ways, and one that easily gets under your skin to leave a mark. They’re not necessarily treading any new ground musically, but rather showing how to properly display a series of moody, artful, and engaging pop compositions.
Rating: 3.8/5