The rise of the guitarist/drummer duo is upon us. Although the lynchpins of the movement, The White Stripes, have gone their separate ways, we’ve still got anthem-factory The Black Keys and rising stars Cairo Knife Fight. If you like these bands – and we do – you’ll love Wave Sleep Wave.

Teaming up guitarist/frontman Jerry Adler and drummer Yuval Lion for the first time since their days in New York’s indie-rock group The Blam, Wave Sleep Wave manages to create deeply layered sonic masterpieces. Lead single Hey… What? should give you some idea of what to expect from this outfit: rich, echoing guitars twinned with funky, compelling beats. And above it all, Adler regales us with stories told in a drawling, punky tone.

Although Wave Sleep Wave‘s sound delves into loops and sequences, the band’s eponymous debut album was written and recorded in an impulsive, almost organic way. A rehearsal session between Adler and Lion fleshed out the musical textures that the band would play with. After that, Adler wrote the 9-track album in what seems like a furious blaze of creativity.

One rehearsal later, Adler and Lion played a sold-out show in NYC’s lower east side, performing in order what would become their debut record. When they headed into the recording studio to cut that record with engineer Danny Shatzky all of eleven days later, it was only the fourth time they had played through the whole piece in its entirety. That energy, that excitement, and the duo’s intangible chemistry are unmistakably evident in each moment of Wave Sleep Wave.

If you like your hooks catchy and immediate, this isn’t the band for you. There’s a sweet subtlety in this band’s music that rewards you with repeated listens. As first you’ll be ensnared by the trippy quality of the guitars and Adler’s reverb-drenched voice. Next time, you might find yourself paying attention to the lyrics and following the narrative within the song. Either way, it’s refreshing to hear music that doesn’t try to give all its satisfaction on the first listen, rather like a cheap orgasm.

The debut album is out now on Curb Cut Records. Definitely worth checking out.