Hammock

Comparisons are inevitable when it comes to instrumental bands and Hammock aren't immune to this beautiful curse. Yes, the duo of Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson draw heavy influence from Sigur Rós, to the point of including "vocal instrument" parts in "Breathturn." But their reliance on, or homage to, the Icelandic quartet's signature sound has been waning from release to release. On Chasing After Shadows, they've relinquished that hold to a greater degree and the results are spectacular. The emotional pull is much stronger compared to their last album, Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow. Songs such as "Andalusia" and "The World We Knew As Children" use spacey lulls to hypnotize listeners while angelic strings fill the speakers. And they even step toward the microphone, adding actual vocals in "You Lost The Starlight In Your Eyes," a standout track amongst the album's 12. Chasing After Shadows is Byrd and Thompson's most complete effort, both cathartic and heartbreaking.