Disconnect from Desire is a fitting name for School of Seven Bells’ second release. The title sounds artsy and relevant but, on further examination, it proves empty. School of Seven Bells play electronically-tinged dream pop, with an ambient, distant feel dominated by the overlapping vocals of twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and backed with perky, synthesized beats and guitars from Benjamin Curtis.

The record gets underway with “Windstorm,” arguably the best track, with an upbeat tone that the rest of the album lacks. In “Windstorm,” the atmospheric music piles an emotional refrain when Alejandra’s calm demeanor comes in line with Claudia’s overlapping backing vocals and the contained, dancey beats create a mood akin to watching a storm through a secure window. The song, unfortunately, is also incredibly repetitive, which is a pattern throughout the record.

The album continues in the same vein, with solid, dance-fuelled beats overridden by sleepy vocals, “Heart Is Strange” and “Dust Devil” being further examples. The record shows its cards over these first few songs, and the first hint of anything different comes on “I L U,” a mournful song whose lovelorn lyrics are countered by Alejandra’s deadpan delivery. It’s post-triphop where the music is so focused on airy, atmospheric distance that it feels emotionless. By the time “Babelonia” starts, with her syncopated delivery, it’s not hard to picture her reading the lyrics out of a book. There is a compelling texture, but the vocal side of the band offers little more than soundtrack.

Ultimately, there is a market for what School of Seven Bells do, and when it hits on all cylinders - as it does in “Windstorm”- it’s compelling and catchy. It peaks when the vocals align with the backing music and Alejandra’s voice rings of genuine emotion. However, there is very little real emotion to be felt when listening to Disconnect Form Desire, instead the listener will find herself floating away with the airy melodies.