Balmorhea

With last year’s exceptional River’s Arms, Balmorhea asserted itself as the best instrumental outfit birthed by Austin since Explosions in the Sky. But while Explosions fires behind guitar pyrotechnics, Balmorhea crests in more ambient, classically influenced waves. Helmed by pianist Rob Lowe and guitarist Michael Muller, the group’s third LP further expands behind strings and drums, while adding touches of chanted vocals on the opening “Settler.” The gentle movements lull with a mesmerizing beauty but cut with a driving forcefulness in “Harm and Boon.” Balmorhea never loses focus, though, deftly interweaving cinematic rhythms in accessible yet surprising patterns. “Elegy” and “Remembrance” are elegantly simple centerpieces to the surge of “Night in the Draw” and gorgeous hum of closer “November 1, 1832.”