Alcoholic Faith Mission's fourth studio effort, 2012's
Ask Me This, features more of the Brooklyn via Denmark band's experimental, often psychedelic, melodic folk and avant pop. Featuring both male and female vocals set against a bevy of organic and electronic sounds including strings, bells, synths, and various beats, this is sprawling ambient music that splits the difference between the classical influence and avant folk-prog of
Dungen and the sparkly dance-inflected indie rock of
MGMT and
the Flaming Lips. To these ends, we get the moody and cinematic vocal harmony-laden opening cut, "Down from Here," which brings to mind a mix of the '60s vocal pop of
the Free Design and the alt-rock of
Stereolab. Elsewhere, we get the yearning, blown-out bliss-pop ballad "Alaska," the quirky pop-prog of "Into Pieces," and the driving orchestral electronica of "Reconstruct My Love." Ultimately,
Ask Me This is a beautiful, challenging, and rewarding listen. ~ Matt Collar