School Of Seven Bells is a New York trio made up of identical-twin vocalists Alejandra and Claudia Deheza (formerly of On!Air!Library!) and musician Benjamin Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines).

My introduction to SVIIB (as the band abbreviates itself) came via “Half Asleep,” an ethereal tune in which the twins’ light-as-air voices, intricately intertwined, are carried along by Curtis’ bubbling, swirling keyboards and surging guitar. The chorus particularly calls to mind vintage Cocteau Twins, with Alejandra and Claudia sounding uncannily like Elizabeth Fraser doing her signature indecipherable-vocals thing.

But departing from such dream-pop ancestry, SVIIB features lyrics sung in (very real) English. The chorus to “Half Asleep” goes like this:

What begins as an unguarded train of thoughts slowly can become an addiction to the slumber of disconnection and the resonance of memory that no longer has a shape but keeps you numb through the hours ’til gone is another day.

Seeing such stream-of-consciousness in writing might dissuade you from enrolling in School Of Seven Bells. But “Half-Asleep” is wonderfully lovely in its execution — and that word-heavy chorus so effortlessly delivered — there’s really no reason to resist. Put on your headphones and let yourself be carried along. I think you’ll enjoy this ride.

“Half-Asleep” is taken from SVIIB’s debut, Alpinisms. I haven’t heard the rest of the album, but if it’s half as good as this initial listen, I’m very much looking forward to it.

Purchase School Of Seven Bells – “Half Asleep” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.