Twelvefour

Twelvefour is the second studio album by Australian indie-folk band The Paper Kites, released in 2015. The album is a concept piece born from a creative experiment by lead singer Sam Bentley, who forced himself to write exclusively between the hours of midnight and 4 AM (12 to 4) for two months. This self-imposed sleep deprivation was intended to tap into a different creative headspace, resulting in a sound that is significantly more nocturnal and atmospheric than their debut, States. Recorded in Seattle with producer Phil Ek (known for his work with Fleet Foxes and The Shins), the album marked a departure toward a more '80s-influenced indie-rock and dream-pop sound, characterized by the heavy use of electric guitars and synthesizers. Despite this sonic shift, the band maintained their signature vocal harmonies, grounding the new textures in familiar emotional territory. The album was well-received for its cohesion and successful expansion of the band's sonic palette.