It’s been four years since we last heard from Jimmy LaValle and his crew of atmospheric wunderkinds. For those unaware, The Album Leaf is LaValle’s nearly two-decade-old, mostly-instrumental brainchild, and “Between Waves” is the group’s latest offering of tunes.

“Between Waves” is comprised of eight tracks with virtually no wasted space and absolutely no filler. The album is incredibly intentional with its approach, combining layers of string arrangements, piano and synth leads, and both digital and acoustic drums patterns. This is the level of care that LaValle is known for throughout his years of manufacturing elaborate yet calming music.

The album starts with the lovely digital “False Dawn,” which provides an immediate comfort for the seasoned Album Leaf fan—those familiar with the band are quite accustomed to the airy tones that LaValle employs. Xylophones tease the listener’s ears as the song builds into a multi-layered and satisfying post-rock blend of atmospheric ear candy.

“Between Waves” continues its build up with the energetic digital presentation of “Glimmering Lights,” which demonstrates how the group has made some upgrades in terms of its production and experimental detail. The track is complex yet light, upbeat and eccentric.

We finally hear LaValle’s gentle voice when “New Soul” lands at track three. Something so rewarding about The Album Leaf is how LaValle restrains from over-using vocals. When it appears, LaValle makes sure that his voice is not distracting from the overall presentation of the song. Yet his voice, the instrument, is merely an accent to already sufficient songs. In reality, LaValle could easily release an album full of tracks with vocals and it would be an instant success—but that’s not his game. This is expert-level understanding of one’s craft.

For those who have never listened to The Album Leaf, selecting “Back to the Start” first would be a good choice, especially when studying or trying to focus. The track harkens back to the calming elements that have made the band so successful. And the subtle use of muted trumpet throughout makes the song such an enjoyable listen.

“Wandering Still” is a lavish throwback to the sounds of the band’s decade-old album “Into the Blue Again.” It’s a lively, groovy exploration of all the things the band has experimented with throughout the years. To me, it feels like the most involved and intricate track on the album—constantly reaffirming why this group has commanded such attention in the post-rock instrumental scene for years.

“Never Far” has the feel of “On Your Way”, a track from the 2004 album “In A Safe Place,” the band’s most acclaimed album. Both are incredibly accessible tunes, and “Never Far” is certainly the most accessible track on “Between Waves.” But it doesn’t shy away from the instrumentation and feeling that comes from the era of Radiohead’s “In Rainbows”—which is incredibly rewarding to hear from the group.

The penultimate track, “Lost in the Fog,” weaves an elegant and upbeat digital tapestry reminiscent of the composer Tycho—with a salsa rhythm that makes you want to dance, added to an album that carries nothing but good vibes.

The finale and title track, “Between Waves,” drones for over a minute until LaValle’s voice serenades the listener with the ominous lines: “Moonlight fades from my sight / Sunshine blinds my eyes / Nightmares run through my mind / Sunlight—I’m still here.”

This is an incredible closing track, not only for giving a sense of finality to the album, but for the lyrical structures it includes. It’s important here to go back to the earlier point about LaValle’s vocal restraint. This final track is incredible because for only the third time on the album, we hear LaValle speak. And it isn’t until this final track that we finally hear the group’s intent with the album.

The repeated lines, “Between waves, I take my breath,” echo with a sense of drowning, and having to fight for your life. But the lines are expertly juxtaposed with LaValle’s calm and dry delivery. The urgency of the lines is not met with urgency in his voice. The lines are met with the triumphant sound of trumpets, which comes off as reassuring instead of exasperating. And if there’s one reason to listen to The Album Leaf, it’s for some reassurance, and for an escape from the trivial nature of life.

There is a deluxe vinyl edition of the album, which contains four bonus tracks and five remixes from the likes of Daedalus, Dntel, and Lorna Dune. This deluxe edition is available for streaming on Spotify. It is also available on CD and on vinyl with an alternate red album cover, and a beautiful blue and silver merge pressing via Relapse Records. So if you feel like you enjoyed these eight tracks, know that there is much more to this wonderful return to form for The Album Leaf.