While they may have been 'rescued' from a full-blown launch on their last album, with "Dancing Echoes / Dead Sounds" North Carolina's Codeseven have now officially blasted off into space-rock territory. This latest effort finds them with their head both in and above the clouds, crooning out emotional rock that revels in plodding tempos and sullenly textured instrumentation. Completely at odds with their hardcore/metal beginnings, this floaty venture is the finished answer to the pondering paper work that was "The Rescue".

These days the band are now more content to gently mix the works of the contemporary descendents of Duran Duran (aka the Deftones and Lostprophets) with the more ambitiously droning instrumentals of Failure, dredg, and Mogwai. This curious concoction of styles is one that remains intelligent and endearing, yet dreary and depressing in the same. Ultimately the band seek out little dynamic contrast or differing emotions on this release. A decision which leads much of what could be emphatic content to instead remain locked up tight as they slowly wallow along. That's not to say the music is uninspiring or entirely flat though. In fact, the mildly upbeat instrumentation they do bring to the table at times recalls shades of mid-80's new wave and British rock.

Unflinching bass lines plod along with intent. Crisp drumming cleverly accentuates the sparse droning guitar strums and drawn out plucks to engulf the listener in fading waves of noise. Mellowed out vocals top it all off and what sounds to be electronically derived meandering becomes the icing on the cake. Still, though there are enjoyable moments, this album is a dimly lit fire that is more likely to chill the listener to the bone than keep them warm on a rainy night. It does feel overly labored and tiresome on more than one occasion, but these qualities soon become both strengths and weaknesses which work for and against the band on a track by track basis. Ethereal, calming and haunting, "Dancing Echoes / Dead Sounds" may not be the most engaging listen, but it's a welcome escape all the same.