Half String: A Fascination With Heights

After several excellent but little-heard EPs, the Arizona guitar-pop band Half String has finally released its full-length debut, and it's a dandy: With rich, chiming guitars and effectively morose vocal performances, it strikes an exceptional balance between sad melancholy and uplifting pop beauty. Comparisons with Red House Painters are inevitable—singer Brandon Capps sounds quite a bit like RHP's Mark Kozelek—but these 10 songs are driven by a lighter touch and a more percussive feel. Ultimately, what makes A Fascination With Heights stand out is Half String's impeccable guitar work: The sound is soft and simply shimmering, with tension arising from vocal drama rather than abrasive instrumentation. It's the large dose of Half String the band should have made a long time ago; fortunately, it was worth the wait.