The Besnard Lakes

From the dramatic swell of instruments and voices at the outset of opening track "46 Satires" there's little doubt that this is a Besnard Lakes album. With four now under their collective belts, it can safely be said that the Montreal quartet have mastered the art of space-rock soundscapes while maintaining a toehold in the terrestrial pop world. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO comes on like a warm bath, more comforting in some ways than the group's previous two Polaris-nominated albums, until "People of the Sticks" provides some clarity. Here, the ongoing dance between group leaders Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas's classic rock and shoegaze influences is seamlessly executed. The track provides some stability amidst the churning sonic waves throughout the rest of the album, which reach a crescendo on "Colour Yr Lights In," another Beach Boys-meet-Sigur Rós epic that the Besnard Lakes are able to effortlessly conjure up. While Until In Excess lacks a genuine revelatory moment, it's their most overall consistent and accessible album thus far, especially for those who have been reminded of the shoegaze phenomenon with the recent return of My Bloody Valentine. It may be unfair to compare Lasek to MBV's Kevin Shields, but at least he's more prolific.