Aloysius the Band’s “mortise+tenon” explores the spectrum of what “cosmic folk” might mean, from organic and whimsical to indulgent and otherworldly. Moving casually through several modes of songwriting and performance, the album as a whole is a moving document of a talented composer and singer pushing their impulses toward unpredictable results.

This is a bedroom-produced album, which poses some occasional limitations. For the most part, the lofi components work to the songs' benefit. Multiple tracks achieve heightened appeal due to the authentically shambled performances: doubled vocals wander away from each other, guitars lean into sour notes, percussion wanders off beat. These organic elements lend an overall rustic charm to the project. But at times the ambitious nature of the project is at odds with the approach's limitations. For instance, the climax of the title track aches to explode, but the instrumentation just can’t achieve those dynamics.

More often, the production masks any deficit in dynamics. Each song is layered and complicated by multiple elements. Some songs are more overtly complex than others, like “Just a Tickle in the Throat” and its tricky programmed beats, or the overlapping delay and autotuned vocals of “A Few Too Many Ghosts.” Even the barebones tunes like “Tip of Our Tongues” and “Wrestling (with the curse of time)” employ ethereal backdrops to create greater depth and impact. There’s an M. Ward-like push/pull between traditional and experimental that makes for an always engaging listen.

Frequently, these songs devolve into lengthy codas that feel like circling in search of a target. While the songs in the moment feel immediate and engaging, repetitious structures or these more meandering moments can dilute the song's potency. At the same time, this approach allows for a deeper immersion into the soundscape. More active listeners might find the progressions lacking spontaneity, but true to the "folk" aspect of its genre, that's where the lyrics do the heavy lifting.

The soulful and appealing vocals would win over ears even if they weren’t delivering such interesting lines or experimenting with cadence, much like an energized Father John Misty. These wouldn’t be straightforward songs even if they were laid bare by less ambitious production. Sometimes slapping “cosmic” before a genre just means there’s a lot of effects. With Mortise + Tenon, Aloysius the Band creates music rooted in tradition but reaching for the unknown.