"We have tried to simplify our lives, to balance lows and highs…" Let's get this out of the way straight away: many people have released records that have led to the declaration that "quiet is the new loud" since THE KINGSBURY MANX released their debut album almost exactly a year ago, but none has improved on their blueprint. The mysterious quartet from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, crept into people's consciousness with the minimum of fanfare through virtue of their music alone (unfashionable as that may seem), which was greeted with a hushed fervour and awe. THE KINGSBURY MANX was one of those rare debuts which seemed note perfect, every single detail in its right place. Their exquisite four part harmonies, their gentle flourishes of melody and pastoral instrumentation, these all seemed to be too good to be true, and back at home there even seemed to be some doubt that they were indeed a new band at all, rather than old scenesters masquerading as secretive college kids. read on...