This sunset is violent. Reminiscent of a seasons change. The turning of tides and the changing of ways. The emotions are as raw and grating as the swells of the songs are smooth. The ebbs and flows of the voices sing of heartbreak and love's aches, as the fluid composition teeters on the edge of the cliff, dancing between the jagged fray and the slow crashing waves beneath. The Sunset Violent is a masterpiece.

Standout Tracks: Dumb Guitar, Shipwreck, A Figure In The Surf, Empty And Silent

Indie rock isn't usually Mount Kimbie's game. Initially making a name for themselves in the electronic world, "The Sunset Violent" is their first foray into the sphere. And what an excellent debut. With a sound that's steeped in nostalgia, this album smells like teen summer. The haunting vocals throughout lay a somber tone, highlighted by bright, airy melodies and punctuated with a rugged, grungy guitar, that reminds you, although the scenery is beautiful, the mood is anything but. And the vocals reflect the sentiment. Take "Shipwreck", the modulating ballad, with a 7/8ths time kick that rolls you like a choppy wave, holding you up just a moment before coming crashing down. As they croon I tried to be that someone you really need A shipwreck beneath your sea I'm all alone A flash in the pan A mismatch from the gun you feel the emptiness and loneliness magnified. The simple but potent verses reminding just how painful love can be.

The duo are bolstered with a couple of guest appearances by King Krule, who takes this project far beyond the stratosphere. "Boxing" is the music at its peak. Krule's beautiful and sorrowful chorus leads you along, building and building to an epic crescendo surrounding the ears with a hypnotizing cacophony of harmonies. And "Empty And Silent", the pièce de résistance, is a rolling, mellow jaunt. With vocals that spin a solemn story of solitude over a chorus of tones transporting him along the rhythm, he tells the tale of a heartbroken lover trapped inside his mind and his home, desperate for a reprieve or escape.

This album is a masterpiece. To say it feels at home would be the understatement of the year. Something about this album speaks to your soul. Speaks to the past loves and lives you lived, as you learn to let go and move forward as you grow. The familiarity with each song furthers with every listen, and this album grows more and more comforting as it sits with you. Each pass is like running your hand over old scars. And as they fade ever so slightly, you grow ever more grateful for the experiences that made you.

Final Verdict: instant classic - how many times do I have to say it? This album is a masterpiece.