Plenty of assumptions could be made about a band that takes its name from the 1985 Michael J. Fox film “Back to the Future.” The first being, its members are really into fantasy dreamscapes. On Chicago trio Save the Clocktower’s sophomore effort Carousel, the band takes us on a very visual journey of swirling, electronica-filled dream destinations that feel comfortably familiar.

The most striking element to Carousel is how much the vocals nearly match the timbre of fellow space rocker and former Failure frontman Ken Andrews. If all album information were hidden from sight, I’d dare to say that Save The Clocktower’s second album is the natural follow-up to Andrew’s other space rock project Year of the Rabbit.

However, this vocal style is not the only type featured on Carousel. Save The Clocktower’s two singers (Sean Paras, guitar, and Greg Newton, drums and samples) share duties, interweaving differing styles to allow the band to create multiple textures like the soft, ethereal wails found on songs “Far Apart” and “Sinking Ship.”

Opening track “Drip,” mimics the feel of a being on a boat on top of bobbing ocean waves as the band directs your lucid dream bringing up images such as a trip to New Orleans, a crumbling bridge and a spinning carousel.

“Drip” fades into “You Got Me,” a sleepy, shoe-gazer rock number, the style of which goes on to dominate Carousel. Save the Clocktower slows down and speeds up throughout the album utilizing samples, synths (courtesy of Jimmy Shenk) and electronic dance beats to keep the listener interested but not overly stimulated.

Album track “Your Pain” changes things up at the last minute, going off into a 70s rock groove territory before Save The Clocktower return to more mellow ground with closer “Headphones.” If “Drip” is the introduction to the trip ahead, “Headphones”’s soothing melody is the perfect outro to lead you back into the waking world.

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