Although full-throated vocal harmonies are still central to the band’s sound, the ten selections that comprise Tidelands embrace a wider range of timbres and dynamics than The Moondoggies' 2008 debut, Don’t Be A Stranger. Stylistically, this sophomore set is a strong creative leap forward for the young band. There are selections fashioned from little more than hushed acoustic guitar and vocals (the haunting “A Lot of People On My Mind”), and others—like the robust “What Took So Long”—that rise and fall and accumulate momentum, veering towards gospel fervor with impassioned blasts of organ, then reeling back in quiet reflection. Tunes written almost exclusively by Murphy are juxtaposed with those born from long sessions improvising with his band mates: drummer Carl Dahlen, keyboard player Caleb Quick, and bassist Robert Terreberry. There are numbers that were composed at home in Seattle, alongside others created during Murphy’s isolation in Alaska (“Empress of the North”). “Lead Me On,” featuring violin by Seth Warren of the Maldives, sprang from the union of two different songs by Kevin and Carl. Further enriching the album’s sonic palette are pedal steel performances by another member of the Maldives, Chris Zasche.