Hugs are awesome. I appreciate that some people just aren’t into them, but to me they’re a triumph of human social evolution—flexible in application, intimate without crossing boundaries, a welcome reminder of the physicality that connects us as humans. Temporary Resident, the debut from Winnipeg duo Imaginary Cities, isn’t so dissimilar in its triumphs. Sometimes the album plays it polite: a breezy folk-rock feel elevated by the captivating vocals of Marti Sarbit. And then sometimes it stirs deeper, the swooning melodies of “That’s Where It’s At, Sam” and “Hummingbird” lingering like a friend’s full-armed embrace that you dare not be the first to break.
This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2011.