Walls

Walls aren't the first outfit to combine electronic music and shoegaze, but after MOJO Magazine named their debut "Best Electronic Album of 2010," they may be one of the most talked about. While North American critics and audiences were less enthused, the collaboration between Alessio Natalizia (Banjo or Freakout) and Sam Willis (Allez-Allez) quickly released their second full-length, Coracle. Over eight new instrumental tracks, the duo haven't so much placed the beat into the forefront as they've simply allowed it to ride shotgun, allowing the effects-drenched guitar of Natalizia and the decaying keyboards of Willis to shape the majority of the album's sound. Walls are at their best when the find themselves locked into a groove, letting their butterfly wings flutter in endless circles, as demonstrated on "Into Our Midst" and "Vacant." With Coracle, Walls have found a base sound on which to build from, getting closer to truly earning that fly-by-night brand of UK hype.