Air Castles' Swedish-born frontman, Max Mansson, coolly contrasts a demure vocal approach with melodies wrought with emotional tension. “Gold” opens with stuttered drumbeats and piercing synthesizers that sound softened when Mansson’s voice enters the equation. “Another Restless Night” works in slightly more complicated arrangements with cold keyboard tones reminiscent of early Cure recordings. Mansson exercises less restraint in the driving chorus, though he still sings with a stoic disposition. The jangly and playful “Paper Trees” reveals an appreciation for vintage twee pop. “Falling to Pieces” layers icy synth parts over warm pitter-patter percussion while Mansson sings his most confessional lyrics to a sublime melody; it's an easy album standout. With the group's sound stripped down to piano, buzzing ambient drones, and a reverberated vocal take, Air Castles’ token ballad, “Holding On,” manages to be both the album's shortest track and its most riveting. Conversely, “Words Apart” stretches out for nearly six minutes and bookends the album with propulsive indie rock.