A Shoreline Dream's latest dreamscape, Coastal, begins in the former Soviet state of Ukraine, on the coast of the ominous Black Sea, and continues on a journey, albeit far too brief, from the foreboding seas of Eastern Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean. The Denver-based three-piece is in top form throughout this four-song EP, the follow-up to their creepy 2006 full-length debut, Avoiding the Consequences.

Coastal contains the same kind of shoegaze splendor as their debut album, with Ryan Policky's vocals echoing in abundance as distorted guitars swirl around the cymbal-heavy percussion. The production quality is solid, creating an ominous ambiance with a heavy fog of sound surrounding nearly everything.

The standout track is "The Barrier," a fine homage to Sonic Youth's most experimental music, which culls together random conversation, white noise, and guitar feedback to create a mystifying mélange of sounds that starts chaotic and moves toward frightening. Amidst clanking sounds of some kind of metal, a piano arpeggio emerges, lulling the listener into a trance-like state. "New York" and the haunting "Aftershocking," with its string accompaniment, complete the EP.

I don't want to sound contradictory (though I certainly will), as I argued that Avoiding the Consequences felt too long, and now I must say that Coastal might be too short. It was mildly disheartening for this EP to end after only twenty minutes, as I longed for more. I suppose I'm just an insatiable listener, or perhaps that twenty minutes isn't long enough to explore the shadowy corners of the mind.

A Shoreline Dream is a unique musical experience. Their songs exhibit a unique ability to draw listeners into the dark landscapes of the mind, with Coastal being a fine addition to their collection of nightmares and dreams.