Chicago’s Boy King Islands‘ new album, Fall, is meticulously complex in creation, but simplistic in sound. Working within the heady and lo-fi post-rock arena, the duo of Jason Hunt and Zachary Mastoon have created a very impressive first album filled with gorgeous, sleepy, cerebral rock.

Together since 2003, Hunt and Mastoon pull elements from influences like My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr. and Elliott Smith. These artists can be heard resonating through each of their songs. Mastoon’s high tenor voice is unobtrusive and blends deliciously with shimmery keyboards, chime-like guitars and cymbal-laden drums.

Fall‘s first song is a tongue-in-cheek ditty entitled “Math is Christ.” It’s an upbeat (about as fast paced as they get), catchy piece that is layered with creamy rhodes, delayed guitars and fuzzy vocals. Mastoon sings cheerfully in the chorus, “Math is Christ, the devil’s in details, but everything exists just for me.”

The track “Dead Friend” shows a darker side to the band as they enter My Bloody Valentine territory. The mood is changed entirely with Mastoon’s voice becoming breathier and blending even further into the instrumentation. Mastoon and Hunt drive the song with intense tribal drums, fuzzy clashing guitars sounds and heavy bass lines.

They again lighten it up a little in the first half of “Hellos after Goodbyes,” but leave their little face-melting surprise for the second part of the song. Using an acoustic with a light tremolo, Mastoon plays with airy harmonic vocals exposing his Elliott Smith side. The steady quiet sound of feedback is threaded throughout the song, building a tension that explodes a minute and a half later. Screaming psychedelic guitar riffs, heavy crashing drums and bass on overdrive come roaring in, leaving you in awe of the diversity this band can pull off all in one song.

Another highlight on the album, “Atlantean” takes you on a little bit of a journey. The song opens simply with nearly surf rock-ish guitars and builds upon itself with keyboards, a lazy drum beat, and two-part harmony vocals, eventually moving toward a crescendo of layered music and natural sound.

Boy King Islands are masters at blending their songs so that no one element is overwhelming. Distinct and cleverly composed, Fall takes the listener back to a time when music was slow, deliberate and meaningful for listeners; when rock wasn’t all wailing guitars riffs and lead vocal-centric, but emotional and intelligent.

Purchase Boy King Islands’ Fall on cassette with a digital download now at Plustapes.com.