7/10

British Columbia’s musical tapestry just got richer with the debut of 'Folk Signals', the first full-length album from The Southern Residents. It’s a record that feels as rooted in place as it is in purpose: a lovingly crafted collection of tracks stitched together by grief, memory, and resilience, but also sprinkled with wit and warmth.

'Folk Signals' plays like a homage to BC’s rugged landscape, spanning everything from the sombre to the spirited. Tracks like 'Devyn Gale' memorialise tragedy with reverence, while others provide welcome levity, turning the album into a dynamic listening experience that avoids dwelling too long in the shadows. The presence of local folk fixtures like Scott White, Jeanne Tolmie, and Shanti Bremer only adds to the album’s rich, communal feel.

Yet even as Folk Signals holds space for heavy themes, it doesn’t wallow. There’s a generosity in its songwriting, a belief in the healing power of song. The arrangements, steeped in fiddle, banjo, dobro, and lush harmonies, recall the traditions of North American folk while never feeling derivative.

With 'Folk Signals', The Southern Residents have carved out a space that feels both timeless and timely. For fans of narrative-rich folk, this is a must-listen — not just for what it sounds like, but for what it says.