Los Angeles trio The Delta Mirror announce their arrival with the brilliantly-textured debut, Machines That Listen. Each track on the conceptual album takes place in a different room in a hospital, an increasingly popular topic in indie music as of late. Themes of mortality and separation are heavy on the record. From the opening hip-hop infused "It Was Dark And I Welcome The Calm," The Delta Mirror carve out their own ambient niche that flows gorgeously over nine panoramic tracks. Craig Gordon and David Bolt have been making music together for a decade and the seamless integration of their hip-hop roots into the immersive soundscape is remarkable. Equally impressive is the economy of words on the album. The listener is left contemplating lines that at a cursory glance seem pedestrian. It's the subtleties of the delivery that reveal the cloaked meanings behind certain songs. A brooding baritone reminiscent of Interpol's Paul Banks anchors the melodies with occasional assistance from bassist Karrie K's contrasting backing vocals.