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Written by Laura Hamlett Monday, 08 September 2008 06:54

In a field strewn with indie rockers introspective and understated, E for Explosion stands out.

This one's a creeper, and I mean that in a good way. The album I was listening to in iTunes ended and this one kicked in. It sounded good so I let it play, and by the third song, I was hooked. Reinventing the Heartbeat's quiet brilliance slips in easily, without fanfare; by the time you realize what you're listening to, you've been converted.

E is for Explosion is singer/songwriter Jamison Covington's rebirth from the ashes of Jamison Parker. The new endeavor is obviously softer, less demanding, painted with broad strokes in the veins of quiet indie rock and shoegaze. At times, it's simple, introspective; other times the energy cranks up a notch and the music's more anthemic, soaring.

Intro track "Sunday" is a slow, ambient number; up next, the title track reaches cautiously skyward. Covington delivers his breathy vocals almost as a secret spilled just for you; this is especially obvious on "Behind Every Breath," in which layer upon layer of sounds builds into a peak. Midway through the disc, "Paper Flowers Never Die" finds Covington intoning, "Can't you see I breathe for you?" "See You Soon" intros with a simple acoustic guitar; "You Know Who You Are" feels hushedly victorious; and "I Explode" seems to do just that. Disc closer "I Ain't Lost if I'm With You" comes full circle, back to the reflective ambience of the kickoff track.

In a field strewn with indie rockers introspective and understated, E for Explosion stands out because of its shimmering calm. It could very well be the next soundtrack to your life. A- | Laura Hamlett

RIYL: Owen, Death Cab for Cutie, Jamison Parker