Exclusive ND First Spin: Whitehorse – ‘The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss’

by Kim Ruehl

If you’ve been hanging around No Depression for a while, you’ve probably read a word or two about the Canadian duo Whitehorse. 

Comprised of husband-and-wife team Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, the duo is the result of years of collaboration in the background of each other’s records. Finally, in 2011, they decided to make a go of it, leaving their solo efforts aside in the interest of developing a sound built as heavily on Doucet’s remarkable guitar skills as the pair’s haunting vocal chemistry. Then there’s the songwriting, which is equal parts her and him, and makes for tunes which are stirring and dark, creative and romantically passionate. 

We liked it so much, we included them in our South by Southwest showcase last year, as they released the disc’s follow-up on Six Shooter Records. That album saw the pair making greater strides toward a more solid, definitive sound – one which has been praised by everyone from the Toronto Star to this very website. (Here’s a review Skot Nelson posted last year.)

While the disc dropped in Canada last summer, the fine folks at Six Shooter Records are now celebrating an official US release this week. To help celebrate, they’ve granted us permission to offer this free full album stream of Whitehorse’s The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss. Check it out and see what you think, then drop a comment and let us know what song you like best and why. We’ll choose two commenters at random to win a free autographed copy of the album.

You have until next Monday Jan 14, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. PST to enter to win. Otherwise, simply sit back and enjoy the music.