A Chorus of Storytellers
Sub Pop***

Some acts have such a specific sound that's so intrinsically them (The Ramones, Mice Parade), that a shard of a song is enough to place them. Jimmy LaValle, former post-rock auteur, is one such, thanks to his electronic-meets- acoustic symphonies. The multi-instrumentalist turned heads with his excellent 2004 album In a Safe Place, showcasing a fondness for asymmetric key changes, found sounds and instrumental layers. That album, like this one, was mixed at Sigur Rós' Reykjavik studio, by the band's engineer Birgir Jón Birgisson. Blank Pagesand Summer Fogare typically Album Leaf – flawlessly recorded, beautifully epic – but there's a disappointing flatness to things. It lacks angles, as though LaValle has stayed in his safe place, refusing to move on musically despite the addition of a full live band. His talent is abundant here, but new ideas aren't. www.thealbum leaf.com

Download Tracks: There Is a Wind, Blank Pages