Minks - By The Hedge (Captured Tracks)

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Captured Tracks was releasing some lost tapes by a band called Minks from 1985 or so. By The Hedge sounds alternately dated and fresh at the same time. The singles released last year as a tease are included here as the New Order-ness is in full effect “Funeral Song,” and “Ophelia,”. While those tracks were impressive and really whet my appetite for the album, the greatest triumphs are new to By The Hedge. My favorites are the songs with the additional female vocals courtesy of Amalie Bruun. It is this interplay where frontman and songwriter Sean Kilfoyle’s talent is in fullest bloom. The record kicks off with “Kusmi”, a wonderfully reverby confluence of The Cure and The Vaselines, an early nominee for best song of 2011. “Cemetary Rain,” also follows this blueprint with great success. “Juniper,” is the other track that features both Kilfoyle and Bruun’s vocals and is a slight departure but equally magical. There is even a lovely instrumental in “Indian Summer,”. “Our Ritual”, “Bruises”, and “Arboretum Dogs,” are also extremely strong tunes.

Whether you want to recapture the days of Echo & The Bunnymen (only better, in my opinion) or looking to get lost in a daydream, let By The Hedge be the soundtrack. There’s much to enjoy.