Boston orchestral pop band Art Decade began when singer Ben Talmi was in the 8th grade. Or rather, the seeds of what would become Art Decade first took root when Talmi formed his first band, Channel,while still in his early teens. After several EPs, Channel garnered the attention of the late LeRoi Moore of The Dave Matthews Band. By then known as Art Decade, they were invited to record their 2008?Innocence/Experience EP at Matthews’ own Haunted Hollow Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia.

When the band was ready to record their 2012 debut LP, Western Sunrise, they enlisted producer Dan Hannon, set up shop in his studio, and came away with a self-described “neo indie classical” album of symphonic pop/rock. They continue this thorough dissection of indie pop and classical music on their self-titled sophomore album, which is due out sometime in September.

With soaring vocals that reach skyward and a rhythm section that never allows the song to lose momentum, the band sets its sights on maintaining the balance between its narrative intimacy and pop self-importance. Sentimental without being over-wrought, the band reveals true feeling and revelation within the swaths of swaying strings, thudding percussion, and biting lyricism.