BEGINNING in the style of the Twin Peaks theme, the new album from this US two-piece is a mellow collection, interspersed with bursts of musical darkness.

Feather Lighter, the opening track, is sublime and gentle, as is following track Breezy – simple drums, bass and guitar, topped with Jessica Larrabee’s strong vocals, themselves featuring the depth of Adele, but more restrained and less bombastic.

Owl is the album’s first darker track, with added but subtle horns, before Both Sides aims for ominous but upbeat, with a splashier, up-tempo drumbeat and welcomes electric guitars as if Jack White had reined himself in a bit. Restraint is the keyword for Eight Houses, for although there’s a ton of emotion, musical talent and skill on offer, it’s never done in an extravagant way or to show-off.

Where other artists might make a bigger deal of their guitars or vocals to convey the feel of a song, Larrabee and Andy LaPlant are wise enough to know that less means more, and a whisper can be more effective than a scream.