Eyes at Half Mast [CD]

"Eyes at Half Mast" is Talkdemonic's high-water mark. Here the Portland, Oregon duo has created an album that teems with moments of spirited beauty and haunting elegies. There are passages filed with raw dissonance and a sense of loss and memory runs through many of the songs, but the tone of the record is ultimately one of hope. A satisfyingly dark vitality that embraces melodic confidence. Talkdemonic continues to expand the range of emotion that can be evoked without words, and "Eyes at Half Mast" is the most convincing testament to date as to just what the instrumental duo is capable of.