slenderbodies conjure an immersive world on new genre-blurring project fabulist

Debuting last year with debut project-cum-EP sotto voce - that's Italian for whisper - the pair have been practicing their falsetto and busy crafting their follow up release. The five-track collection is accompanied with byinvitation from the pair to "join us as we float out to sea for a story of adventure, bewilderment, and lucidity."

Themes of the sea are crystal clear on fabulist. There's the pairing of opening offering "opal ocean" and closing cut "opal ocean pt. ii", and a quick glance at the tracklist reveals further titles like "anenome", all harking back to the big blue expanse.

Telling stories and carefully picking words to make listeners feel is just one part of the slenderbodies mantra - the most important part of their mission comes from using their music to make people feel. They explain: "We both have this huge focus on how instrumentals make a person feel. We blend ‘natural’ into digital, and that’s really important to us. We try to marry the two into this cohesive natural product that people will enjoy."

This is a body of work, which sounds best played through from start to finish. The intricate guitar work, samples of the marine environment, and otherworldy vocals draw the whole project together to create a circular sonic narrative. As for a standout track? That accolade has to go to "little islands" with its psychedelic influences and winding melody creating a singular journey within the wider context of fabulist's ambient soundscapes.