Hypolight

This South London ensemble—which describes itself as "dream-folk"—works a potentially interesting corner of the musical world, finding ways to add meaning to the light, airy, and ethereal landscapes it paints so effortlessly. It all comes to down to singer Kate Sproule, who rarely settles for bland vocal exercises that would hightail the group into the new age curriculum. Instead, she runs over the vocal paths skipping and jumping, not afraid to go wordless when the moment calls for it yet ambitious enough to play games with herself as the notes get higher and the multitracked musical washes leave her an opening. Drums and fingerpicked guitars are blended into the sweet reverb and iced-echo chambers. The live track "Climax" is notably more organic, with the acoustic guitar brought to the front with a slightly weakened acoustic-electric sound that's not quite as rich but that leaves even more room for Sproule to roam. As a follow-up to the previous year's EP Life Sized Ghosts, Hypolight suggests Mt. Wolf will likely be heard from quite often in the future.