Engineers

The Engineers' early-'90s shoegaze meets mid-'90s space rock is so reverent to its mistress, one wonders if the reels weren't pulled from a 4AD time capsule buried in the English countryside. The word dreamy barely begins to describe the British quartet's wind tunnel vocals, heavily chorused guitars, and swirling electronic vistas. Derivative as it may be, it's done so well that it's awfully hard to bash. Where similar groups like Elbow and Coldplay use their atmospherics to conjure up non-specific, U2-inspired anthems, the Engineers paint landscapes of icy desolation/ozone hole warmth that rival Spiritualized -- their vocal delivery owes a great deal to a certain Jason Pierce as well. Standout tracks such as "Homes," "Forgiveness," and "Said and Done" may not win the group any literary awards, but their attention to sonic detail, unabashed romanticism, and instantly engaging melodies should win them legions of fans who grow misty-eyed at the mention of the names Slowdive, the Pale Saints, or as the band points out in its bio, Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue. ~ James Christopher Monger