Irreal

Just when it seemed like Disappears couldn't get any sparer or darker, they do just that on Irreal. Where they used to trade in supernovas of feedback and distortion, their songs are now taut and spacious black holes. The Kone EP and their previous album Era pointed the way to this direction, but it feels more organic and confident here, with the band's evolution mirrored in linear, skeletal songs that can still generate more sparks than the work of much louder and flashier bands. Their skill at carrying on post-punk traditions in ever-changing and challenging ways often recalls Liars, another band guided more by an aesthetic than an allegiance to any particular sound. Irreal's minimalism is an uncompromising and often riveting testament to Disappears' integrity, which seems to be the only constant in their music. ~ Heather Phares