Windy & Carl have been the voice at the heart of the Kranky label, (alongside Labradford), for many years. 2008 sees an album with the timeless authority of the aforementioned collectives "Prazision" LP; an Americana drone masterpiece in its own right. If you haven't already guessed it, the sound is reverb drenched drone guitar and whispered vocals. This predictable delivery is anything but unwelcome, it's what lurks between dense chord changes and hushed lyrics that make this a timeless exhalation of breathed harmony. 10 tracks ooze over 70 minutes through mesmeric heat-haze ballads. "Songs for the Broken Hearted" opens with the creeping of dawns early light, slowly melting morning frost with contemplative speed.

The album continues and turns up a notch, blurring effortlessly in a heavily processed Kevin Sheilds moment. Remnants of strummed chords overlap to create soundscapes akin to Axolotl's hypnotic "Telesma" LP. Soaring drones resonate over twisted notes which seem to switch effortlessly from the improvised to the composed. Elements from Windy & Carl's back-catalogue have been fused and focused into a wealth of fresh and exquisite tone-play. On the negative side, I found proceedings a little over long and at times the vocals a little whimsical. However, the overall success of the album lies in its ability to jump out of these tired moments and deliver tracks like "Rhodes", which generate twinkling outer-space waves that make drone-based guitar and keyboard music so profoundly moving.

This is a glimmering journey with its heart set in just the right place. Elements of Fursaxa's longing drawn-out vocals, Christina Carters delicate song-craft and a healthy slab of psych drone, fuse to create a deeply affecting record. "Songs for the Broken Hearted" will grow on you like algae; slow, thick, all-consuming and full of life. 8/10 -- Peter Taylor (15 October, 2008)