This is the second outing of Orcas after their 2012 self titled album. The band themselves are a two piece featuring Benoît Pioulard (who we featured previously here) and Rafael Anton Irisarri (The Sight Below). The two members teamed up with Martyn Heyne (of Efterklang) on guitar and piano, and Michael Lerner (Telekinesis) on drums to create this lovely new effort. You’d expect nothing less from those involved, but it doesn’t disappoint!

Songs such as Filament demand your attention, in which a heavily layered keyboard plays over a driven drum sound, that pounds along throughout. There are lilting vocals sung over these two elements to create a large sounding, emotive track that is best played loud! This is the type of music that fills rooms and reminds me at times of Talk Talk and the Blue Nile, two bands that rarely put a foot wrong in my mind.

The sound they are making is neither trendy nor commercial enough to gain the attention of the wider press, so I’d expect this to become one of those sleeper albums, that some people end up raving about, proclaiming love to all you’ll listen, while the wider world continues to ignore. Hopefully I’m wrong about that, but it is very rewarding for all those willing to take the time to listen and enjoy it!

Orcas – Yearling is released by Morr Music

Track Listing:
1. Petrichor
2. Infinite Stillness
3. Half Light
4. Selah
5. Capillaries
6. An Absolute
7. Filament
8. Tell