Album Review: The Paper Kites - States

States is beautiful. There's probably a better word to describe it – some polysyllabic adjective that encapsulates the extraordinary soundscape and detailed texture of the multi-layered tracks. But 'beautiful' does the job just as well.

The Paper Kites have created something truly remarkable with their debut LP. Produced with Wayne Connolly (You Am I, Josh Pyke), States is laden with a diverse array of instruments. The band even collaborated with up-and-coming composer Tim Coghill on several tracks. You have to wonder how this album is going to translate live, but nonetheless, it's a unique, eclectic and frankly brilliant result from the Melbourne quintet. The mournful cry of the guitar in middle track Tin Lover will leave its mark and the sweet and light Tennenbaum has traces of Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans, while the harmonic Never Heard A Sound belongs on a Sunday afternoon playlist along with some Bon Iver.

Coghill's input is prominent on the final two tracks, filled with delicate, understated sounds – particularly the final three-and-a-half minutes of closer I Done You Wrong. As the vocals slowly fade and only the symphonic strings remain, it's evident that States is a record with a professional polish, atypical of your everyday indie-folk production.

Apparently, there was in-fighting in the band over the inclusion of some of the tracks on this record, but in the end The Paper Kites will be glad it turned out as it did, as will you, because States is stunning.