Contrary to the listener's probable first impression, the album isn't entirely instrumental, but it does take 6:30 for the vocals to enter the first track. And even then, they're distant, as if being heard from another room. This tuneful moaning brings to mind Darker My Love's first album or even shoegaze heroes My Bloody Valentine. Hypnotic, entrancing, atmospheric, the album swirls around and engulfs you for about 49 and a half minutes, depending on whether or not you put it on 'repeat'.

With its repetition and calm, Thom-Yorke-in-a-coma vocals, Sagarmatha might actually scare the s*** out of you. Particularly haunting moments include "A Bright Light" in which guitar notes are sustained eerily, "The Road West's" Godspeed You Black Emperor chorus, and "Like A Locust", where a sprawl of guitar haze is held together by an entrancingly catchy bassline.

The vocal melody to "Raise the Sails" is like the just-as-catchy cousin to Bon Iver's "Skinny Love", even if there is so much more going on in the mix than our bearded forest-dwelling friend would have favored. The vocal harmony in "South Col" feels pretty�well�Pink Floyd-indebted, just faster.

There are about a million bands that can be labeled "post-rock", but Appleseed is unique. Unlike Red Sparrowes, there's no overarching sense of the approaching apocalypse, and unlike Tortoise, there's no playful, futuristic experimentation. And unlike Mogwai, the songs don't feel like brooding epics that stretch on until you don't care anymore. Appleseed Cast's songs are more like standard indie songs, just with the ability to shut down your central nervous system.

Recommended If You Like: Darker My Love, Mogwai, The Dears