HiM

Although recorded largely in 2004, it took Bubblecore nearly two years to release Peoples, and it was well worth the wait. For this record, Doug Scharin recorded yet again with another retooled version of HiM's lineup, this time featuring a large list of guest appearances and contributors. Joshua LaRue returns from the previous incarnation to handle guitar duties, as does Adam Pierce, who handles vocals as well as vibraphone, marimba, and other instruments. The band confidently breezes from one tune to the next, touching on sounds that wouldn't be out of place on albums from their contemporaries like Stereolab and the Sea and Cake, with a little bit of Talking Heads thrown in for good measure. The emphasis on vibraphone and marimba this time around certainly helps to give a stylish flair to the very well-crafted compositions, and the group focuses more on strong arrangements than freewheeling, polyrhythmic jams. While the similarities to its predecessor, the excellent Many in High Places Are Not Well, are evident, the band also makes great strides in evolving its sound from one record to the next; something that more bands in the post-rock subset woefully neglect to do. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide