Shadow Work

Denver based Shadow Work plays indie rock in the kind of floating and expansive style that may bring to mind bands like Local Natives and Elbow in terms of their emotional texture. Their music has a gentle, dreamy core driven by guitarist Rafael Nava's shimmering guitar tones and moody atmospherics, as well as his expressive vocals. Some of his cord choices, when coupled with drummer Ben Zickaus's playing style in particular, and his tendency to keep it loose, add a palpable jazz feel to their sound. The songs often have a wistful and soulful flow that draws the listener in. The band's ability to create subtle but effective tension and release cycles gives their music the quality of being both relaxed and nervous at the same time.