Boy King Islands

Boy King Islands' duo of Zachary Mastoon (also known for his work as Caural) and Jason Hunt have staked out their sonic territory effectively as a sometimes loud, sometimes soft, experimental, shoegaze-y act that live and die by their sonic fuzz and ambient textures. So it's odd that Fall is so forgettable despite the band's easily discernible sound. The combined forces of a slick guitar hooks, Mastoon's double-layered vocals and a subtle coating of distortion evolve into an interesting climax of crashing drums and explosive white noise on "Hellos After Goodbyes." Next, the band succeed in using the same tricks to create a more haunting, languidly paced atmosphere on "I Talk to the Wind." But after this brief mid-album high, the album's adventurous spirit quickly dissolves into aimless acoustic guitar meanderings and formless ambience. Mastoon and Hunt are competent musicians, but only time will tell if they can channel their talents into something memorable.