Sian Alice Group: Rupert Clervaux (vocals, various instruments, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboards, electric bass, drums, percussion); Ben Crook (vocals, various instruments, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar, zither, harmonica, piano, keyboards, electric bass, percussion); Sasha Vine (vocals, violin, accordion).

Personnel: Sian Ahern (vocals).

Time is the essential component in this incredible debut from Londoners the Sian Alice Group, as its title, 59.59, suggests (hint: it's the running time). More specifically, the SAG is concerned with music's place in time--how it stretches, slows, and distorts its passage. 59.59 is an out and out stunner of aural glory, with shoegazer textures melding with the avant compositional sensibilities of Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Multi-instrumentalists Rupert Clervaux and Ben Crook man strings of all varieties with patience and dynamism, but the record's star is Sian Alice herself, as her voice resonates from deep space and humanizes the whole affair.

Pitchfork (Website) - "['Contours' is an] early standout, with Ahern's choral vocal leading the hazy, synth-swathed hymnal before the drums come crashing in and start hunting for Caribou."