All Is Wild, All Is Silent

Austin's Balmorhea has always made beautiful music, but that pulchritude has often belied the underlying sensuality that makes their music so inviting. The band takes a giant leap forward, embracing that sensuality, on their bold and variegated new album. Now a six-piece with drums and upright bass, the band known for understated simplicity and restraint has produced a album that is joyous, haunting, and even a little sexy. Throughout the album you can almost hear hearts pounding in the sun as the music swells and aches. Some of the most surprising moments manage to be both subdued and antagonistic, acting as a balm for the frazzled soul and as an impetus for revisiting (and reevaluating) some of the most magical and painful times of the past. Part of the band's metamorphosis was inevitable, with the addition of drums, upright bass, and the frequent use of wordless vocals provided by both band members and special guest Jesy Fortino of Tiny Vipers (Sub Pop). The way they incorporate these new elements is remarkable, but even more impressive is the growth and maturity of their songwriting skills.

"Balmorhea flashes brilliance only to highlight a slow-burning constancy that's at the core of one of the year's early slow wonders." -- Pitchfork