Mr Twin Sister // Salt

Salt

Twin Label

4.25 Stars

Don't let the energetic dance beats of the opening track, the lusciously radiant "Keep on Mixing" fool you, this album is a dark, captivating downtempo journey. The opening saxophone notes of the "Alien FM" clue in the listener perfectly to the undeniable sensuality of the album, practically oozing out of every measure. A modern-day successor to the brilliance exemplified by bands like Massive Attack, Cocteau Twins, and Portishead, Mr Twin Sister have raised the bar for themselves, and it's absolutely worth a listen. This is the kind of album that cannot be fully appreciated in the light of day. Some things are made for the night, and this is one of them. Salt is the third studio album from the Long Island quintet in eight years, and seems to have been well worth the wait. The evocative vocals of frontwoman Andrea Estrella are an essential part of the band's appeal, full of idiosyncratic tonal quirks that never feel forced (on full display in the final cut, "Set Me Free"). Perhaps one of the top moments is the hypnotic, almost afrobeat enticement of "Jaipur," as Estrella performs a call-and-response with herself against string arrangements and a never-ending pulse. — Nick Warren