Immaculate Machine — Fables

Fans of Immaculate Machine's Ones And Zeros may find some initial disappointment with about half of the tracks on Fables, as the west coast threesome have decided to dial down the frenetic pace that marked the majority of the songs on that disc. After coming to terms with the shift in tempo, however, it becomes evident that even Fables' slowest tracks are hook-filled and drenched in enough metaphor to warrant return visits. While the music is engrossing, Immaculate Machine's main selling point continues to be the vocal interplay of Brooke Gallupe, Luke Kozlowski and New Pornographer Kathryn Calder. There may not be a more perfectly matched vocal assemblage in pop music today. Opening track "Jarhand" (which, oddly, features guest backing vocals from Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos) is the kind of song you'll play on repeat for hours at a time. Immaculate Machine thankfully still have an uncanny knack for making a bassless three-piece sound like an orchestra.

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