Excerpt: “Iretsu’s debut album was a great mind-blower, a blasting little collection of playful art-pop gems… Yet again Iretsu prove they’re splendid, magic pop-heads. ‘Name…’ is a frantic, energetic, happy-go-lucky sort of feel-food pop song, and it makes me assure myself to yet again put on their album. This is perfect music for dancing when the sun is shining, or when the rain starts pouring, or if there’s a cold wind breezing up. Delicious stuff. Again, Arcade Fire, move over and let Iretsu through!”

Luna Kafe 

“If you haven’t yet checked out Iretsu, then this is your chance to hop on the bandwagon before this Portland-based trio really take off. Currently operating in a completely different stratosphere to any other band on this planet, such is the originality of the avant-pop troupe’s sound, ‘Name Our Numbers, Numbers’ carries the Angry Ape seal of approval. Recalling the likes of Sonic Youth, Talking Heads and Arcade Fire, this track follows their debut masterpiece The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky, which featured everything from theatrical singalongs, Morricone-esque soundscaping and schizophrenic angular pop… Highly recommended.”

Angry Ape 

Excerpt: “In the world where indie folkies Iretsu dwell, long and winding instrumental passages are nothing to be afraid of nor are they something to be endured to get to the substance of a song… Melding such gorgeous, exploratory passages with the ethereal male/female harmonies of Arcade Fire and a sedate indie rock aesthetic, the band’s sound is dreamy and hard to resist. Excellent tunes like “Bad Secretary”, “Funnel”, “Clear View” and “Led Bat” are engaging and poignant both in instant flashes and gradually as a whole… Once it makes its way into your playlist, your brain, your life, this is the type of album that’s hard to set aside.”

PopMatters 

Excerpt: “Iretsu retain their own identity throughout this record–an identity that enables them to sound like no other band on this planet… Each track on The Moon… is different and such eclecticism shouldn’t be sniffed at. It’s one of the many factors that makes this record so appealing… the majority of tracks here are excellent, from the theatrical sing-along stomp of “Higher and Higher” to the driving angular pop of “The Shore”… The Moon… is wonderful. Hidden Shoal has unearthed a gem from the masses of dirt and has seemingly saved this record from the annals of the lost classic. I do not use the word classic lightly, but Iretsu deserve it for their sheer originality and invention. It would have been a crying shame had this record been known to only a select few, but Hidden Shoal have put paid to that. This record is a must… for any self-respecting music fan.”

Sonic Frontiers