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The beautiful 20th-century Gothic prints wrapping the sophomore album from Hamilton’s A Northern Chorus foreshadow the artistic accomplishment inside. Their awesome wordsmithing makes ANC stand out among their shoegazey peers, and the sleeve art here acts as a picture book of prints to complement their poignant lyrical narratives. The soothing soundscapes of dream-pop guitar and lush, meandering vocals make this follow-up to their Spirit Flags debut awe-inspiring, while Alex McMaster’s throbbing cello adds texture. Although the eight tracks stretch to a whopping 45 minutes, that’s more evidence of the masterful precision that went into this album than of any misguided wankery.
