Last we heard from Boys Climbing Ropes, they were finally finding their niche and polishing their indie rock sound: dance rhythms, jangly guitar licks, moody vocal duets; on the title track from 2008's A Pleasure To Be Here.

Fast forward two years, and BCR have expanded their sonic palate, producing a more mature and refined effort for their latest release Except for the Darkness.

Clocking in just over 26 minutes, Except for the Darkness nearly captures the excitement of BCR's live sets, songs like "Whale Song," "Big City" and "What If You Had To" featuring the signature vocal interplay between singers Xiao Pengke and Jordan Small, over drummer Devin Gallery's deep and dance-y, alternating snare and hi-hat pocket.

Of note is the aforementioned "Whale Song," the disc's closer and most complete effort. Gallery and bassist Morgan Short create a solid, infectious foundation that blends perfectly with Pengke's atmospheric keyboard lines and Small's arpeggiated riffing. The vocal duo then exchange verses, beginning with a pair of smooth and soulful passages, eventually culminating in a screaming harmonic affair for "let's build the structures into spaces they taught us never exist."

Recorded by Brad Ferguson (Hard Queen), EFTD is a more polished effort than its predecessor. The multi-tracked vocals, delayed guitar riffs, tight rim shots and throbbing bass lines on "What If You Had To" allow the track's nuances to shine, while the synth-pop leanings during the bridge of "Life Knife" are treated with a level of clarity that is sometimes missed during live shows.

Much like the debut disc, EFTD sees BCR simultaneously closing out an era while beginning a new chapter, exemplified by "Little Person," their most ambitious track to date. Significantly darker in mood and tone than the other tracks on the EP, "Little Person" features Xiao Pengke's strongest vocal performance as she wails "The yellow dusty water running the span of the streets / Cannot walk borne down by his giant giant wings."

While it's still too early to start making calls for album of the year, it's highly unlikely that any artist from Shanghai will top Except for the Darkenss, which will be given away free with admission this Saturday, January 30th at Yuyintang for Boys Climbing Ropes' official CD release show.