Department Of Eagles
‘Archive 2003- 2006’
(Bella Union)

If ever there was proof needed that Department Of Eagles are one of the most chronically underrated groups around then ‘Archive 2003-2006’ is surely it. Firstly, to state the obvious, these are all songs written around half a decade ago. Secondly, these are songs that failed to make it onto the band’s previous two efforts. The fact, then, that Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and ex-roommate Fred Nicolaus have produced an album more cripplingly, heartbreakingly beautiful than most could ever hope to achieve in an entire career’s worth of trying with, essentially, their leftovers is astonishing. Drenched throughout in spine-tingling Beach Boys harmonies and the kind of lush, heart-swelling melodic arrangements that could reduce a grown man to tears, ‘Archive…’ is a stroke of staggering near perfection.

Lisa Wright