on!air!library!

At last, their full-length! Made up of twin sisters Alley and Claudia Deheza and Phillip Wann, this trio has recorded an album that looks not to the past, but the future. An album built from electronic sounds and textures, then matched with mood-appropriate beats and layered vocals. A daringly diverse set of songs that look at pop through a prism -- guitars echo and ricochet as drums, samples, and vocals swirl together cohesively, creating a hypnotic blend not heard since Portishead were in their prime.

The album is also defined by its painstakingly crafted songs, like the entrancing "Bread," which features soaring vocals by both Dehezas and explosive drumming by Brad Conroy of The Boggs. The noisy, frenetic "Bambalance," showcases O!A!L!'s experimental side, while the alluring opener, "Faultered Ego," develops a groove around ringing guitars and a staccato drumbeat by another guest percussionist, Sam Fogarino of Interpol. There are also moments of 4AD-style pop updated with electronic programming ("Fell To Earth"), sad, hopeful balladry ("i95"), and surging new wave-inflected pop ("User28"). Some of the tracks were recorded in Wann's bedroom studio with Aaron Shoblaske, while others were given the proper studio treatment by producer Steve Rivette (Beastie Boys, Liars, Jon Spencer).