You Knew

This 17-piece Texas ensemble arranges its songs with meticulous care, making grand contours of sound that convey volatile emotional states. On this album, the band fuses elements of symphonic theater music with a jittery indie pop attitude that both complements and clashes with its formalist leanings. Featured vocalists Tamir Kalifa, Nick Gregg, and Claire Puckett interact like characters in an Off Broadway play, framed by intricate combinations of piano, horns, and strings. From the Celtic-tinged pulsations of “Pink Stallions” to the somber classical broodings of “My Majesty of Madness” and the soundtrack-like shimmer of “Marfa,” Mother Falcon keeps listeners beguiled and unsettled with its sonic ingenuity. The lush, near-operatic “Sleep” and the darkly sweeping “What’s the Matter” are especially striking. Tracks like “Blue and Gold” and “Porcelain” prove that the band can work in more intimate settings as well. “Marigold” may be the album’s most defining moment, a wild ride of swelling brass and palpitating rhythms. All these high points combine to make You Knew an exotic, challenging, and ultimately rewarding listen.