Italian band Larsen often seem to put more energy into their mystique than their music, but their excellent recent collaboration with Xiu Xiu (go here for a Salon exclusive download from it) showcased a subtle and fully in control band with a well-thought-out sonic identity. Given the enigmatic nature of the band's reputation, it's something of a surprise how conventional, or at least accessible, much of the music actually is. Their latest, "Seies," is a series of atmospheric, repetitive and at their best quite mesmerizing pieces, which shift and build slowly and organically, with plenty of extra swelling provided by Antony and the Johnsons cellist Julia Kent.
-- T.B.
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