[4/5] If there were a hipster club in Middle Earth, Espers would be the house band. The Philadelphia sextet's sophomore album is a dense exploration of the pastoral end of late-'60s folk that picks up where their druidic, eponymous debut left off. Melodious minor-key vocals waft like incense smoke over lilting guitar lines; haunting strings and exotic sound washes create atmospheres that are eerie enough to dim room lights. Part Fairport Convention, part Moody Blues (albeit with shimmering female alto singing), Espers have a skill for crafting jammy interludes that's second only to their knack for playing hard-to-pronounce classical instruments that start with "d" (dulcimer, doumbek or dholak are all good examples). And though parts of the album veer a bit too close to the synthetic hippie pabulum you hear upon entering the Nature Store, there's enough dark charm on Espers II to make it essential listening for those of us who prefer our CDs caked with actual resin .
(DRAG CITY) Casey Lynch
 Official Website: http://www.dragcity.com
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