And the Glass Handed Kites

With AND THE GLASS HANDED KITES, Danish band Mew pushes past the varied excellences of their previous album, FRENGERS, to create an album that is as ambitious as it is disarming. The smooth, androgynous dream-pop moves through unusual time structures, one song transitioning fluidly into the next. There are solid if gentle rock numbers, too, led by some truly excellent drumming. Jonas Bjerre's lyrics, though occasionally difficult to catch, are surreal and inventive, and J. Mascis, formerly of Dinosaur Jr., guests on two tracks as well. There is an epic feel to this album, the soaring vocals and synths pushing the band toward a sound and a feeling that is just enormous.