The Canadian husband and wife duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland avoid the sophomore slump by advancing their story. The group’s ethereal harmonies, dreamy guitars and ambient textures create a cinematic quality on many of the songs. McClelland’s urgent refrain on “Baby What’s Wrong” and the dark beauty of the single “Sweet Disaster” depict palpable tension and reflection. Wild cards, like “Downtown,” utilize distorted effects to make statements on urban unrest and decay. Any way you slice it, Whitehorse tells tales that can’t be denied. – Eric A. Harabadian