Wow, I'm being blown away as I type. This is a beautiful, extremely musical album. I'm so tired of all the bands who say they're "musicians," when really all they are is percussion-bangers and chant-shouters with swanky haircuts who wanna be on the anti-TOTP.

These Blue States people are talented, creative, innovative, lush, instrumentalist musicians, and I love them for it. The songs have a sculpted quality about them--time, love and real giftedness was put into them. I have to say, I prefer the ones with lyrics: "What We've Won" and "Only Today" are two of the best new songs I've heard all year--and I don't say that lightly. The female singer has a gorgeous voice, just the kind of crisp clean soprano-if-it-wants-to-be sound that I get chills from.

This album would be very much appreciated by anyone who has an ear for musicianship. It's got so many layers, you could listen to it for hours and come upon new ones again and again. It's fairly ambient, XL Recordings is a dance label and all, but it totally avoids the usual repetitive pitfalls of chill out dance music. It's just amazing.