I'm usually not a huge fan of this sparse, reverb-drenched style of indie pop, but when it hits, it hits right on the money (hence, why I can't get enough of Lorde). Daughter broke that trend for me a bit earlier this year, and The KVB keep the train rolling ever so slightly. While it's true that this record can be very samey in the middle and lack a discernible personality in some songs, the songs on which the band is firing on all cylinders really make up for it. The opener "White Walls" sets the tone really well, while the subtle and catchy "Lower Depths" and "Never Enough" keep the ball rolling. The highlight is the one-two punch of penultimate and instrumental "Mirrors", which has a marvelous little crescendo, and closer "Second Encounter", which has the best melodies in all respects on the record. Though it definitely lulls in the middle bulk, the bookends of ...Of Desire save it from being a boring and tedious affair.
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