Cathedral was one of the most promising records of 2004, showing a thematic flow and developed level of song-writing rarely seen in debut efforts. First Light’s Freeze proves pretty convincingly that it wasn’t a fluke.   Full text...

The songs on First Light's Freeze, the San Diego band's second release, reflect the sound of this wandering-troubadour songwriting tradition.  Full text...

They incorporate hints of free jazz, low-key indie rock, folksy country and a lot of jam-influenced experimentation within their mellow, moody songs.  Full text...

The second Castanets album picks up where the first left off, stringing together disembodied fragments of gothic Americana with brief, freaky interludes.  Full text...

The one absolute is that the album is consistently captivating.  Full text...

Raposa's strength might lie in melancholy pop songs, and at that, he might be peerless.  Full text...

First Light’s Freeze, Castanets' second release on Sufjan Stevens’ Asthmatic Kitty, haunts like the soundtrack of being lost in the woods on a cold winters night, and after almost falling into the abyss, the sun suddenly rises.  Full text...

Raposa's second album, First Light's Freeze, is a showcase of how little he's learned since Cathedral.  Full text...

'No Voice Was Raised' is the best song here, marching along all catchy-like until being enveloped in an awesome wall of squeal and skronk, and 'Good Friend Yr Hunger' boasts the most instantly appealing melody Raposa's yet written - spry  Full text...