CD CHOICE: It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) HATEISTHEENEMY Records ****

They say good things come to those who wait, and if any band knows how to play the waiting game, it’s Halves. The Dublin trio (Brian Cash, Tim Czerniak and Elis Czerniak, who have their live show bolstered by two additional members) have released two EPs in recent years, harvesting goodwill and critical acclaim along their meandering journey – but it’s taken until now, five years after their formation, to release a full-length album.

That's not to say that It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever)wasn't worth hanging around for. Recorded on vintage equipment in Montréal's famous Hotel2Tango studios, and engineered by members of post-rock deities Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt Zion, at 55-minutes long it undoubtedly requires an investment of time. The difference between Halves and other bands of their ilk, however, is their ability to sequence and pace a record, resulting in a debut that works from its first note to its last.

It'd also be unfair to neatly compartmentalise Halves as "post-rock", considering the scope of their sound. This is music that belongs to the witching hour; every threatened silence is filled with a hazy, eerie shimmer, lending tracks such as Darling, You'll Meet Your Makera sinister afterglow. The girlish tones of Amy Millan (of Canadian indie-rockers Stars) thwarts the measured gloom of standout track I Raise Bears, while Katie Kim's turn on the steady Growing & Glowbuoys the murky mood beautifully.

Yet despite their many guest collaborators, there’s no doubting that this was a labour of love for Halves alone. Every cinematic note sounds painstakingly crafted; every rich burst of strings, deep rumble of brass, or ominous piano coda finds its place amid the deliberate, stately pace of this album. A fine exercise in splendidly subdued grandeur – just remember to leave the lights on when you play it. See ahomeforhalves.com

Download tracks:

Growing & Glow,

I Raise Bears

,

Don’t Send Your Kids to the Lake