North Atlantic Oscillation

Any band named for a climatic oddity involving atmospheric pressure taking place at sea level in the titular North Atlantic certainly has an appreciation for ongoing winds and storm patterns. "Fog Electric" is also a beautifully onomatopoeiac title for the lush washes of sound that trickle over your ears across the 10 glorious sound-castles herein. Shards of electronica and actual guitars, bass and drums also provide support - but it's the chorus-of-seraphs vocal hymns floating over it all that make you shiver with wonder. It sounds as though the Beach Boys wrote "Our Prayer" for early Hawkwind. A stunning, hypnotic masterpiece.

- RICK KOSTER