Garden of Arms is the second release by the duo of Peter Pisano (guitar, vocals) and Brian Moen (drums, percussion). More experimental and less overtly folkie than their debut, Inter-Be, this sounds in many ways like the work of a different band, one more ambitious and bursting with ideas. “Right Away” and “Cut a Hand” are layered and rich. “Having It Out” and the ethereal “Wheel” are spare and moody. And “Krishnamurti” and “Hard Heart” stand out with their driving guitar riffs and Moen’s galloping drum patterns that serve as foils to Pisano’s complex melodies. Yet for all its variety, the album maintains balance and cohesion due to the songs’ strength and polished production. Synths, loops, and keyboard blips are blended into a textured background that alternates between being sonically adventurous and quietly beautiful, depending upon the moment. Exciting and a bit unexpected, Garden of Arms is an impressive move forward for this restless duo.