Post-rock supergroup Pullman return after a 25-year hiatus with a new album and new elements to their sound.

The Chicago band Pullman began life as an all-acoustic outfit back in 1998, treading a unique path between the instrumental intensity of post-rock and the pastoral fingerpicking of their favourite folk guitarists.

This new tune, recorded by the studio-only band after a 20-year hiatus, could not be more different, harnessing the opposing forces of ambience and noise.

Previous releases were acoustic soundscapes conceived in the spirit of Nick Drake, Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Ry Cooder and Richard Thompson. By contrast this, the opening number on their newly released third album, is a warm, fuzzy concoction of electric guitars filled with a haunting sadness. And with good reason.

It was recorded not despite, but because of drummer Tim Barnes receiving a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 54, serving as a celebration and tribute to his contribution. Despite his debilitating and degenerative illness, Barnes does play on the album alongside his bandmates, veterans of 1990s post-rock bands with similar aspirations like Tortoise, Come and Rex.

The rest of the line-up on III is Ken “Bundy K.” Brown  (Tortoise, Directions in Music, Loftus), Doug McCombs (Eleventh Dream Day, Tortoise, Brokeback), Chris Brokaw (Come, the New Year), and Curtis Harvey (Rex, Loftus).

The whole album (III) is lovely, and a fitting tribute to their bandmate, beginning with this tune – Bray – and ending with a beautiful banjo instrumental called Kabul.