Ottawa based collective the Acorn dig on themes: their first record was a “tribute to the Outaouais region,” and now a few years on, their second full-length is based on the life of lead singer Rolf Klausener’s mother, Gloria Esperanza Montoya (hence titled Glory Hope Mountain). And as you’d expect from a band that writes about regions and moms, the music is subtly sweeping and agreeably melodic, or at least it is on the polyrhythmic road-traveler “Crooked Legs.” Maybe expectedly, there’s a big natural element at play with fireflies, gardens, and errant wandering on the table before the Acorn busts into a marimba ‘n’ horns-inflected groove. “I’m going as far as these crooked legs take me / I’m watching the road with two young eyes to guide me,” is Klausener’s optimistic ‘n’ weary credo in this cut, and for five minutes, it’s a story we believe.

• The Acorn – “Crooked Legs”Download

Hit MySpace for more listens (check “Flood Part 1″). Glory Hope Mountain is out 9/25 on Paper Bag. The Acorn’s lined up a fall trek through their native Canada to celebrate, check yr dates below…

09/22 – London, Ontario (LOLA Festival)
10/11 – Montreal, Quebec @ Casa del Popolo
10/12 – Kingston, Ontario @ Grad Club
10/13 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Barrymore’s
10/18 – London, Ontario @ Call the Office
10/19 – Guelph, Ontario @ Club Vinyl
10/20 – Windsor, Ontario @ Avalon
10/24 – Sudbury, Ontario @ Townehouse
10/25 – Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario @ Gallery Lounge
10/26 – Thunder Bay, Ontario @ The Outpost
10/27 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ West End Cultural Center
10/28 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ Louis’ Pub
10/30 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Starlight
10/31 – Lethbridge, Alberta @ Slice
11/02 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Plaza
11/03 – Victoria, British Columbia @ Sugar
11/05 – Calgary, Alberta @ Broken City
11/06 – Regina, Saskatchewan @ The Lazy Owl
11/15 – Waterloo, Ontario @ Starlite
11/16 – Toronto, Ontario @ TBA
11/17 – Peterborough, Ontario @ Montreal House