The slow stream of singles from Pure X's forthcoming Crawling Up the Stairs suggest that the band's softly emerging from their reverb-soaked, foggy introspection to a sunnier place-- one where nostalgia is draped over gorgeous sprawling plains, and surprisingly raw vocals help humanize quietly brooding frontman Nate Grace, who suffered a nasty leg injury (without insurance) while working on the LP. "Thousand Year Old Child" unfolds like a cathartic lullaby as a gentle guitar melody strums over a swinging, heartening beat while Jesse Jenkins softly warbles out his self-reflection. Pure X's intimate moments are more charming than ever; when Jenkins asks, "What am I doing with my life?", it sounds as if he's inviting you to answer.

[from Crawling Up the Stairs; out 05/13/13 in the UK and Europe and 05/14/13 in the U.S. via Merok/Acéphale]