Imagine yourself sipping a coffee at a small antique bistro table on a Parisian side street, listening to a band play casually meandering, jazz influenced pop songs. Or maybe you’re at a southern dive bar crushing whatever drinks are on special listening to americana infused folk rock. In either scenario, the band could be Atlas Lab. The Boston area quintet released their latest collection of crystalline indie compositions in July and I cannot stress enough how special a record this is. Winding in an out of melodic guitar leads and subtle tit tat cymbal work that keeps your ears perked – “Glory the Night”, the full length follow up to debut EP “Wake Up Slow” shows the band at their most assured and focused. The albums ten tracks saunter forward through the haze and mist of Solei’s hypnotic vocal work and keep you firmly rooted in the trance like beauty of the rhythm section. These are well crafted, intentional, and often times deeply moving serenades that simultaneously slip your thoughts into a dreamlike purgatory that you don’t want to leave. Like the magic hour at sunset as the dusk gives way to night, Atlas Lab are there to guide us to heaven. Come catch their record release show at the Middle East this coming Friday 8/18 with Aubrey Haddard an Ali McGuirk and be sure to snag a copy of this ethereal masterpiece.