一聽音樂網

Yesan Damen's debut record, The Never Beginning Story, earned the band rave reviews and favorable comparisons to Sufjan Stevens and Belle & Sebastian. Since then, the scope of the band's sound has grown considerably. Devoting more time to experiment with sounds and arrangements, the Seattle-based group is proving that their creative potential is still on the rise.

Whereas time is a constant forward-force, timing often appears ballistic or even misplaced. On Chronos/Kairos, Yesan Damen principal songwriter Danny Kwak tackles these perceptions with a deceptively sunny sonic demeanor ?one as duplicitous as timing itself. Lyrical content spans second-guessing, self doubt, re-evaluation, missed opportunities, and dissatisfaction with a violent human climate. However, subtle elements of hope are not entirely absent, providing reassurance for all who've struggled and contemplated what they truly want from life.

With contributions from Seattle musicians Jen Wood (The Postal Service), John Wu (Riding Paper Airplanes), Nick Brandt (Swimming With Ghosts), and Sammy Barrett, Chronos/Kairos continues to explore and expand Yesan Damen's sound with emphasis on vocal arrangements and complex instrumental layers. Most of the contributors from the previous album are also featured here, and further solidify the collaborative feel of the album. The band has begun feeling comfortable with its own identity, and it's apparent in this new collection of songs.