Castanets - First Light’s Freeze

Love this album. Don't really agree with the idea that the instrumentals help take away from the record. Felt that they helped to keep the record together actually.

This is a good album but never quite achieves the creaky grandeur of Cathedral. As a follow to up a remarkable debut album though, it is admirable with some shining moments that point the way to a glistening future.

I think this is the opposite of Devendra-lite; this album is packed with no filler and has so many more ideas than Cripple Crow, and I like that album. This album is not entirely similar to Cathedral, however, I think it is more refined than almost any offering from the folk community this year, from Devendra, Vashti, Six Organs, down the line (save Animal Collective; Feels pwns).