Well, it’s February: the Monday of months. The nasty hangover after the wild weekend that is Winter Break. For those that could use some sort of pick-me-up, Portage and Main’s new album Never Had The Time is just what the doctor ordered. It offers a smooth respite from the grey Canadian winter, going down like hot chocolate with a dab of peppermint. This Vancouver six-piece’s sophomore effort is a ten-song album spearheaded by the vocal harmonies of chief songwriters Harold Donnelly and John Sponarski.

Fans of Wilco, Neil Young, and The Band will enjoy the rootsy sounds of Never Had The Time, which has been well received since its release last week. Portage and Main has performed at North by Northeast, Canadian Music Week, and other renowned Canadian music festivals.

The album is strong as a whole, but the song to be whistling to until the ice thaws is the title track, “Never Had The Time.” The vibrato- heavy pedal steel guitar glides through the background of the mix, and weaves in and out with a huge organ that manages to stay consistent with the volume and dynamics of the vocals. At no point does the listener find himself distracted by a specific instrument. Congratulations are in order for keyboardist Georges Couling, who produced and engineered the album.

This record is simple, but in no way minimalist—there’s a lot going on with the various instruments in each track, but Never Had The Time will never overwhelm the listener.