Ellis Island Sound - The Good Seed

Released after a decade together recording various EPs and remixes, along with working on their other projects, this is a welcome reminder that anything is possible within the confines of a band that has been together this long. Recorded with no editing and assisted by violin, viola and, bizarrely, a saw played by their friend Josh Hillman from Willard Grant Conspiracy, this album sounds full and warm with an organic quality sadly missing from too many latter day over-produced releases. Filled with the sort of instumental electronica that Boards of Canada might be making had they decided to use more acoustic instrumentation, this is a well crafted, beautiful record. Each short piece takes up fluidly from the last while retaining an individuality that makes each listen seem like the first. Filled with warmth and humanity, The Good Seed truly sets itself out as an early benchmark for albums of this ilk to strive for this year. [Garry Thomson]