Negotiations by The Helio Sequence

It’s an album that may take an extended listen, but once you key in, you won’t shake it off.

Negotiations' relative lack of beat-you-over-the-head bluster is commendable, but if there's any knock against the record, it's its reticence to go all out, even just the once.

In terms of songwriting, the duo comes off like a couple of kids rehearsing in their parents' garage, rediscovering their instruments and playing without censorship or burden.