RAISING THE FAWN - Sleight of Hand

Sleight of Hand's opening chords ring out with a reverb-drenched urgency that announces the arrival of The Fawn's fourth and best full-length yet. Never short on ambition, the band's switch from longer pieces to more concise structures shows them at the top of their game. The album covers a broad spectrum, from tender falsetto acoustic numbers such as "Two Wives", to the heavy rhythms and rich harmonies of "Palace Gates". The crowning achievement is "Cypress Fields", whose booming bass and polyrhythmic drumming see-saws from primal breakdowns to harmony-laden pop.