I was already feeling quite guilty about not going home for Easter this year, and was made to feel even worse after listening to 'The East Coast,' the sprawling second track from The Daredevil Christopher Wright's debut full-length In Deference To A Broken Back. It begins with the lines "So what's the word, are you coming home for Easter?" then proceeds to document the changes one experiences while growing up, and the important family events you might miss after you've moved away from home. The three-piece from Eau Claire, Wisconsin (home of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who mixed the record for his one-time tourmates), have crafted a wildly diverse, thoroughly engaging album filled with songs that, while often being about rather heartbreaking subject matter, maintain a spirited exuberance that keeps them from ever sounding too morose.The record begins gingerly with the Owen Pallett-like 'Hospital,' a brief violin-plunking ditty that seems to be over before it truly begins, serving more as an introduction to 'The East Coast' than a fully-formed song in its own right. If you don't get drawn in by the multiple time and tone changes of 'The East Coast,' as well as the clever horse-clomping drumbeat during the breakdown (which further emphasizes the song's traveling theme), be patient, for the bands style changes drastically from track to track. One moment there are hints of the orchestral howl of Wolf Parade on 'Acceptable Loss,' before they switch gears on the rambunctiously raw 'A Conversation About Cancer,' which is reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel. But that is not to say that these clever, inventive songs are derivative in any way, for they are entirely modern sounding, while obviously wearing their influences well. Layered within all the songs on Broken Back are direct, revealing lyrics that are at once absorbing and invigorating, while also tending to be imbued with an inherent sorrow that belies their propulsive melodies and agitated rhythms. This could be due to the fact that the album was partially inspired by bassist Jason Sunde’s horrific back injury, which his brother, vocalist Jonathan Sunde, turned into a record filled with both anguish and a sense of optimism, promising that better times await us if we can just see our way through the dark times.'We're Not Friends' is a simple, but nonetheless indelible tune, with an ominous minor-key melody and foreboding lower register vocals. But the sprightly, hand-clap beat in the middle of the song gives it a rustic allure as well as a natural, in-the-moment sound. The production is consistently impeccable throughout the album, with a vast array of instruments coloring all of the songs, subtly changing the moods and melodies of their ever-expanding sound, while never feeling forced or synthetic. There are a lot of musical ideas and experiments packed within these 11 songs (with as many as twenty-five non-band members contributing to the album), but at no time does it sound strained or overburdened with too many movements or concepts, and the tracks all seem to coalesce effortlessly in a genuine, organic manner.'Clouds' is a perfect example of this, with the nearly six-and-a-half minute song touching on many different musical themes and time structures while still sounding tight and unified, unfolding naturally while growing in intensity. It's truly a gorgeous song. The band then takes us to a present-day sock-hop on 'A Near Death Experience At Sea,' a sax-heavy swinger that is infectious and rousing, while also bringing a bit of levity to the sparse, somber finish of the record, with 'War Stories' and 'The Daredevil Christopher Wright' both being tender but inherently tragic numbers. 'Stewardess' closes the album out poignantly, with Vernon adding a crafty sound collage to the songs coda that is subtle and stirring.In Deference To A Broken Back has been out for nearly a year in the United States, and has already found an audience won over by the passion and sincerity of The Daredevil Christopher Wright's music. Even if it takes knowing that Justin Vernon is involved with the project in order for you to give it a listen, you will be confronted with an assured, sonically adventurous record that grows in depth and significance after each spin. The songs are strong and graceful, while the subjects are enduring and eternal, all adding up to a surprisingly potent album. After you inevitably give in and become a big fan of this burgeoning band, you might start to wonder just what it is in the water in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that keeps producing such moving music.