While their first album (States) was folk in a stricter sense, twelvefour feels like something slightly different — largely thanks to the addition of electric guitars and synths, but also because of an extremely glossy production.

But despite all that production, the album really breathes. That could be owed to the time of day it was written and recorded: in between the hours of midnight and four a.m., an experience that singer Sam Bentley said he would never repeat.

The point was to try and capture creativity at its (supposedly) most primal time. Largely, the experience pays off. These are all songs that you’d play in the car after a long day, driving home after midnight when nothing feels right, but nothing feels wrong either. I think you can hear the somber exhaustion throughout.

Much like those magical hours, the album has an air of mystery to it. That’s why it breathes. I also suspect it’s why it still sounds distinctly like The Paper Kites. It’s an authentic and raw album, despite its shiny production values.

The Paper Kites have succeeded in a way that few bands can: they’ve made a record that’s larger in scope and sound than what came before — with bigger and bolder production values — but it doesn’t sound like they’ve sold out. In itself, that’s an amazing triumph, but it’s their willingness to experiment that has me excited about their future.

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Listen to Malleable Beings. If you want to be taken to another place, one far away from the world of work and responsibilities, and one where you can just be, I dare you to find a song better than this. This whole album is like a dream.

Some of the songs are reminiscent of great bands. Listen to A Lesson From Mr. Gray — the song reminds me so much of vintage U2 that it’s uncanny. I’m absolutely in love with the whole thing. Young is also a fantastic song with a really catchy chorus. It reminds me a bit of Simon And Garfunkel, as far as its dynamics go. When Christina, the female singer, is given the lead on songs like Cold Kind Hand, the album takes on a whole different twist.

Despite its laid back nature, States is filled with variety. Personally, in the later half of the album, I’m a sucker for Tenenbaum. This group is really enjoyable. States is the first record from The Paper Kites, and I can’t wait to see what else they come up with.

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