Sure, Brooklyn’s Ex Cops could be labeled as just another Indie Rock buzz band, but pigeonholing the duo would do them (and us) a great disservice.

On last year’s True Hallucinations, Amalie Bruun and Brian Harding excelled in creating beautifully bipolar music, with light, beach-ready pop melodies intertwining with moody, sullen cuts. The debut disc was well-crafted and masterful, showcasing the band’s skill at meshing a New Wave jangle with sunny harmonies.

Ex Cops is now prepping for the release of their second LP, Daggers, executive produced by Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan. The new tunes step away from their former lo-fi feel, and instead aim for a bigger, more polished sound. On, “Tragically Alright,” the latest track released, the pair team up with indie pop weirdo Ariel Pink for a more subdued soft rock ballad. There’s undulating pianos, woozy vocals, and multiple mentions of “tears of a clown.” I’m not sure if it makes me feel hopeful or makes me feel like curling up in the fetal position on the floor, but either way, it’s a sonically beautiful song from a band with tons of potential and tons to offer the pop landscape.

The other song released off Daggers, “Black Soap” also exemplifies their musical shift into bigger sounds. Both tracks are making Daggers one of my most anticipated releases of the year.

Check out the new tunes and catch Ex Cops on the road with Dum Dum Girls sometime this fall (dates below):

Ex Cops 2014 Tour Dates:
10/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot *
10/19 – Denver, CO @ The Larimer Lounge *
10/20 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *
10/22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line *
10/23 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *
10/24 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
10/25 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
10/26 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House *
10/28 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair *
10/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl *
11/01 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
11/02 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern *
11/03 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings *
11/05 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *
11/07 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
11/11 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister *
11/12 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *
11/13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
11/15 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriets’ *

* with Dum Dum Girls

Daggers will be out October 28.