Young Oceans has done a wonderful job of creating an ambient EP in Advent, taking old hymns and re-vitalizing them for the Sufjan Stevens/Iron and Wine crowd. While not as epic as a Sigur Ros album, this eclectic group of musicians take the slow building approach of setting a scene, before adding on to it, thickening their plots with each verse and chorus. The self-proclaimed “neo-alternative worship” band born out of New York City’s Trinity Grace Church succeeds with Advent, but it’s more of a meditative record; you probably wouldn’t put it on and listen to a couple singles. It does a much better job as personal worship and background music to set the mood.
