Recorded with members of Wintersleep in tow, it's no surprise that "Dead Air Verbatim" is an album that frequently challenges the sonic boundaries. An extremely moody dose of progressive indie rock, the effort is overflowing with discordant passion and disheveled instrumentation that fearlessly plods ahead.

The beauty of what Contrived are able to accomplish on this latest effort lies in their ability to be outrightly off-key and jarring, yet remain melodic and endearing. While there are outbursts of aggression and occasional screams, everything feels very spur of the moment. Surprisingly though, there is a unanimous flow in place that somehow ropes everything together.

Charmingly rich vocals walk a knifes edge of anger and melancholy as gritty, jagged guitar parts sweep in and out and fade into jangling drones. Warm heaving bass lines routinely smother and a fierce drumming performance effortlessly perforates any aural sludge the rest of the band put in its path. To be sure, this is freeform musicianship and there are no guidelines or rules followed when this band make music - except perhaps to write and play from the heart.

The songs are spirited, moving and unnervingly dense, and while they often do bear a sharp resemblance to the works of Wintersleep and Kary on multiple occasions, there is a darker more twisted nature afoot here. This, along with the bands enigmatic song-writing are the defining qualities that set them apart. Yes, some parts can become muddled and repetitive and there are moments that feel more like jam room heroics than artistic expression. But through it all "Dead Air Verbatim" still delivers a musical experience not often seen or heard and continues to see the band adding further irony to their chosen moniker.