A band who has always been difficult to define, Decoder Ring are one of the country’s most genuine mould breakers. Each release sees the Sydney six-piece assert their individuality even further: from the indie-rock/electronica crossover of their earliest releases, the Spooky Action at a Distance EP and their self-titled debut album; to the more orchestral, cinematic Somersault soundtrack; and their last album, 2005’s Fractions, which straddled multiple genres like krautrock and shoegaze in what is arguably their most – œpop’ release to date.

Producer Steve Colburn (Animal Collective, Arcade Fire) helps Decoder Ring take their music to even further exploratory depths in their fourth album. The two-disc They Blind the Stars, And the Wild Team melds the best elements of the band’s previous records for this layered and epic sonic journey. Rock riffs and ethereal soundscapes are combined with an expansive melodic ambience not unlike Boards of Canada or early Sigur Ros, and a density of textures reminiscent of M83’s more intense moments. Its structure could even be an homage to early—œ00s peers Prop, whose tinkling – œindie-classical’-inspired arrangements created the same wonderful musical fluidity.

Weaving through gentle lulls and richly layered climaxes, the They Blind the Stars…. journey begins with Beat the Twilight. With choppy punk-rock guitar, gentle electronica beat and intense conclusion, it’s textbook Decoder Ring. The remarkable piano-led and ethereal Charlotte Rampling paves the way for the haunting And Grass Will Grow Over Your Cities, one of the album’s more exploratory and dense tracks, that slowly builds and ascends to an explosive peak.

The more fleshed-out tracks are definitely the album standouts. The Sigur Ros-esque 100 Suns and the dreamy leading single Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom both sit at a luxurious seven minutes-plus long but the ride is worth it, especially as the latter track gallops to its dramatic and synth-soaked finish. Fans of the band’s more experimental leanings will be pleased with the more ambient second disc, which showcases just how multi-faceted Decoder Ring are.

They Blind the Stars, and the Wild Team is an ambitious and well-orchestrated journey, and a further signpost of a band who manage to reinvent themselves with each release. And listeners, take heed: the Decoder Ring live experience is something else entirely. Their ability to recreate the intensity and melody of their records on stage is well known, and the tracks on this album promise to be a real sonic assault on all the senses…in a (really) good way.

They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team is out now through Inertia Recordings.