Some releases announce themselves with big gestures, but The Joy Of Living wins you over by quietly pulling you into its world. It is the debut EP by Understanding, a new indie pop quartet featuring Nolan Jakupovski (guitar, vocals), Lucas Temor (keyboards, vocals), Alex Baigent (bass), and Avalon Tassonyi (drums, percussion), musicians active in various acts in the Toronto scene. They take great care to avoid the clichés of ‘piano rock’—six diverse songs provide a bewitching listening experience thanks to a restless rhythm section, shimmering guitars, and yes, an inspired piano (and even beats in the closing track).

The lyrics wrestle with how we make—and often fail to make—meaning in our daily lives. It’s about recognizing imperfection and maybe even finding comfort in it, and that is well reflected in the jazz-tinged, spontaneous-feeling arrangements.

The Joy Of Living, recorded by Rob McLay, is out now digitally and on cassette via Cooked Raw.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp