NNHM's latest disc expands exponentially on these established strengths. It opens with an acoustic emo mirage in which a gentle-voiced, sensitive strummer sings, Rest assured, my one true love. Then the group subtly adds synthesized atmosphere, complementary countermelodies and electronic enhancements until the tune swells to a fully fleshed orchestral masterpiece. Later, the band lets the bottom fall out of a track built around nimble riffs and xylophone taps, leaving the singer's voice to hover in a haunting haze. It mesmerizes with spooky wind whistles, crescendos that elevate in intensity like a horn blast from a fast-approaching semi and increasingly assertive drum thumps, then breaks the spell with a simple bell chime or a single long-lingering note. Almost every song contains a pure pop payoff. What's amazing are the artful, epic journeys the band takes to arrive at that point and the grace with which it fades away from each climax.
