Imaginary Cities Fall of Romance

(credit to www.cbc.ca)

Imaginary Cities, the acclaimed local soul/pop outfit helmed by vocalist Marti Sarbit and multi-instrumentalist Rusty Matyas, is about to release its sophomore album, Fall Of Romance -- and it may just be the most anticipated local release of the year.

By now, 'Mag Cities dramatic rise is well-documented; a banner 2011 saw its acclaimed instant indie hit of a debut, Temporary Resident, get longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and the band handpicked to open for alt-rock pioneers Pixies.

A project formed out of a chance meeting quickly blew up into one of Winnipeg's biggest musical exports.

Fall of Romance is poised to do equally big things for the band. Due out May 28 via Hidden Pony Records, the album sees the band stretch out over more lush, cinematic soundscapes without losing the energy or urgency of its predecessor. Everything is a bit bolder and a bit brighter, from the hooks to the boy/girl harmonies to Sarbit's soaring choruses.

"For this one, I think we had a bigger and clearer idea of what we wanted," Sarbit says. "For the last one, we were just getting started and getting to know each other. The 11 songs that got on the last record were the 11 songs we had.

"We wanted it to feel like a step up," she adds. "It has a bigger sound in general." She's not wrong about that; rafter-reaching songs such as "All The Time," resplendent with its choir, are destined to be played in arenas.

The record is a stunning achievement for Sarbit in particular, who was green (but very eager) when she went into the studio for Temporary Resident. She's since evolved into a confident, commanding frontwoman.

"I learned a lot from the last album," she says. "It was all so new to me. It was overwhelming but it was exciting. It still feels new; second album doesn't meant I know everything, but I'm getting a better idea of what I want -- and I know how to communicate it to Rusty."

Indeed, Matyas' fingerprints are all over Fall Of Romance. He's a genius when it comes to pop arrangements and is a respected producer in his own right. A host of other gifted players, including Sloan's Andrew Scott and Mother Mother's Ryan Guldemond, also contributed to the record. "To have people you really respect play on your record is really cool," Sarbit says.

"This sounds geeky, but I feel like if I wasn't in the band, I'd still be really excited about this record," she adds. She's definitely not alone.

1. Lilt (The Intro Song)
2. All The Time
3. Bells Of Cologne
4. Chasing The Sunset
5. Silver Lining
6. Sooner Or Later
7. Fall Of Romance
8. 9 And 10
9. A Way With Your Words
10. Who's Watching You
11. Water Under The Bridge
12. Still Waiting/So Cold (The Hidden Song)