Constellations

Austin instrumental ensemble demands patience and attention on this, their best record to date.

Balmorhea's various albums have all had pleasant moments, but Constellations goes some way toward being one of the best if not the best the group has yet released -- if the touchstones remain noticeable there's enough going on to give the group its own enjoyable place. "Bowsprit," the album's second song, is the key in this regard: the absolutely precise and yet varied arrangement -- covering everything from a focused banjo part to the sudden deep wallop of the drums, the arcing of feedback off into the distance of the mix, and the steady acoustic guitar in one speaker -- consists of familiar elements and yet works as its own composition and calling card for the album and band.