Mazes' first record, A Thousand Heys, was like a chick busting out of its shell: awkward, unsure, and a bit messy. Did Mazes intend to sound like an Amerindie band, circa 1988-1995? With a lineup featuring two Brits, an American, and a New Zealander, chances seemed pretty good that Mazes would eventually land on a well-rounded sound with a variety of influences. And indeed they have. Gone are the rather overt nods to Those Who Came Before; instead, they've taken those fine influences and melded them with the dewy, shiny stuff (sprung from youthful and brazen experimentation) that often limns artistic vision. Ores and Minerals has a truly unique, fresh-out-of-the box sound, with each glittering guitar note, melancholy piano, and pulsing motorik melody imparting a sense of focused purposefulness. The lyrics are sharper, and the vocals are warm and friendly—belying some of the more barbed lines about aging, marriage, and religion. But don't let that stop you: this is just smart, sharp-edged rock in the best of the indie tradition. (Note: this Mazes isn't to be confused with the fine folk-pop indie group based in Chicago.)