Iretsu: The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky

In the world where indie folkies Iretsu dwell, long and winding instrumental passages are nothing to be afraid of nor are they something to be endured to get to the substance of a song. Often times, such figures are, effectively, the substance of songs by the Portland-based band. Melding such gorgeous, exploratory passages with the ethereal male/female harmonies of Arcade Fire and a sedate indie rock aesthetic, the band’s sound is dreamy and hard to resist. Excellent tunes like “Bad Secretary”, “Funnel”, “Clear View” and “Led Bat” are engaging and poignant both in instant flashes and gradually as a whole. But, just because the band can move emotion doesn’t mean they can’t also move the feet; a track like “Super Market” with its gently insistent momentum should have appeal for listeners who don’t find the overall indie-chamber-folk vibe of the record all that appealing. Once it makes its way into your playlist, your brain, your life, this is the type of album that’s hard to set aside.