Distant Correspondent

A richly melodic yet hushed set of songs, this self-titled debut by Distant Correspondent is reminiscent of Sarah Records bands like the Field Mice, but with less jangle and darker dream-pop sensibilities. The album also makes some daring sonic choices — more like what you’d expect from an experimental post-punk album (think this year’s offering from Wire). “Merge” contains a gently urgent melody that unravels, then comes back stronger in the end, while the breathy vocals, tonal layering, masterful use of space and minor-key shift in “Clay” give you an idea of how an unlikely collaboration between Kevin Shields and Neil Halstead might sound. Every tune here is like a distillation of autumn’s contemplative mood, tinged with a tasteful spirit of nostalgia.