Turin Brakes Essentials

After starting as a duo, this English indie band expanded in both lineup and sound, using the chill-but-quirky folk-pop of their 2001 debut as a launch pad into rustic Americana; mellow, Air-like pop; and soft, Fleetwood Mac-inspired rock. Still, there's always an understated poignancy to their smooth melodies: gentle horns, strings, or piano wafting through while Olly Knights wraps his silky tenor around delicate acoustic strumming or even Gale Paridjanian's heavier riffs. It's a rich sonic foundation for tender declarations of love and a whole lot of thoughtful introspection.