Two can often be better than one. Many famous duos throughout history have discovered this to be true in their successful careers. Simon & Garfunkel, Rogers & Astaire, Laurel & Hardy: whatever the medium, at the heart of a perfect partnership is the beautiful harmonization of two diverse personalities bound in one voice and vision. Evidence of this is never more plain than on the debut recording from Toronto based singer-songwriter duo, Colleen and Paul.

Equally unadorned, simple, and honest, their self-titled debut CD is a labour of love that unites these two friends and musical kindred spirits. Colleen and Paul are singers, songwriters and guitarists with unique creative visions. She’s an imaginative wordsmith; he’s a musical wizard with an intuitive flair for melody. Together, they have forged a unique style, one that defies a simple definition: ’60s folk-pop with indie rock influences, while hues of psychedelia are painted via Colleen’s sometimes surreal, but always engaging lyrics.

A signature of the Colleen and Paul vibe is their inventive use of harmonies. Their voices shine on the gently haunting “Shouldn’t I Breathe” and infectiously uplifting “A Home In the Top Boughs”. The act also mix in the occasional tongue in cheek dark twist, such as the ode to the dissolute lover in “Lullabye For The Terminally Wasted” (“I’d be happy just to know you”re breathing”) and the reference to watching midnight porn in the irresistibly catchy “TV Summer”.

Colleen and Paul was recorded in Paul’s home digital studio, yet it possesses a sonic warmth usually associated with analog recording. Like a sculptor, Paul produced the album by gently building the songs and then peeling away layers to reveal their masterpiece. Fleshing out the sound on the record is the ace Toronto rhythm section of Christine Bougie (drums) and Darcy Yates (bass). Local gigs have shown that the charms of Colleen and Paul songs effortlessly seduce their audiences, and they’re now eager to take them to the world.