by Mark Deming Canadian singer/songwriter Basia Bulat came seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the most talked about new artists in both Canada and the United Kingdom with the release of her first full-length album, Oh, My Darling, in 2007. Originally from Toronto, Bulat lives and writes in the quieter community of London, Ontario, where she recorded a self-released EP in 2005. Bulat's rich, expressive voice is the ideal vehicle for her songs, which deal with love and life with a combination of sadness and wonder, and her melodies are bolstered by a band that incorporates strings and keyboards along with the traditional drums and guitar. In 2006, producer Howard Bilerman, best known for his work with the Arcade Fire, took Bulat and her band into the studio to record her first full-length album; the result, Oh, My Darling, caught the ear of the esteemed U.K. label Rough Trade, which signed Bulat and released the disc in the spring of 2007 before she had a deal in Canada or the United States. British reviews for Oh, My Darling were wildly enthusiastic, and a tour of England and Europe impressed both critics and fans. Canadian independent label Hardwood Records (home to noted singer/songwriter Hayden) signed Bulat in the summer of 2007, with Oh, My Darling scheduled for release in the fall.