The orchestral spirit of this record is immediate. Tightly wound, perfectly paced, and intricate. The Rhumb Line is one of those rare records to elevate its pop sensibility into a higher calling. Not an easy undertaking but one this sextet from New York pulls off without putting on airs.
Cello and violin exist not as window dressing but as the album’s DNA. The warmth of the strings, fusing with the rest of the bands instruments, weave delicately around lyrics that brightly color the emotions that ultimately define this record.