Warpaint’s debut album is a testament to patience. Primarily patience on behalf of the band in writing and recording it, but also patience on behalf of the listener. Whilst ‘The Fool’ lacks some of the slightly more up tempo songs of 2008’s Exquisite Corpse EP, focusing on the more ethereal, shoegaze aspects of their sound - understandably difficult for most new listeners to penetrate, an attentive or repeat listening of either of their records makes it clear that this is a band worth investing in It is also a testament to craftsmanship. The song structures are precise as the work of a band that have a definite plan and clear knowledge of their sound and craft. And whilst this distinct vision could somewhat lessen its own impact over the nine track, coming across as ever so slightly samey, each song is undeniably beautiful, both as part of a whole and a unique seed from the same tree. This is undeniably due to the fact that whilst carefully constructed these are songs that are very organic, open and free: lead singer Emily Kokal’s vocal melodies, guitar & piano lines and rhythms growing to fruition and falling like leaves - sometimes within a single song, and this serves to both emphasise the supreme confidence of the band and increase the reward for the listener. All this is held together by the joy of The Fool’s crystal clear production which the does the band’s music proud. It serves to be purposeful and enlightening for the band’s sound where it could be muddy and stifling if they’d taken the lo-fi route and this allows each component of the band room to breathe - from the electronic elements of songs like ‘Majesty’ and ‘Bees’ to the understated and yet omnipresent bass groove and to the shaman(shalady?)esque sometimes cooing sometimes howling vocals and harmonies. Combined these elements serve to separate Warpaint’s album out from the rest of the pack as a refreshingly measured and immensely talented band capable of incredible beauty and dark, dense landscapes that almost certainly carve this album into a multitude of end of year best of lists - including yours.