Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Details Her Uncanny Sonic Alchemy
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith’s relationship with sound is in constant flux, and with her new album, her sonics disintegrate and rematerialize in fascinating new forms.
experimental pop
Mo Troper Releases Another Album of Scuzzy Power Pop
Mo Troper collects what sounds like scraps from his previous album and forges a charming spread of 1960s-inspired lo-fi bedroom pop on MTV.
‘Confetti in a Coalmine’ Is Matt DeMello’s Joyful Explosion Amidst a World Falling Apart
Experimentalist Matt DeMello throws his ample talents and wide-ranging tastes into a blender for ‘Confetti in a Coalmine’ which is full of chaotic, dense mirth.
Stereolab Debuted with the Fluorescent ‘Peng!’ 30 Years Ago
Three decades ago, the lucid yet obscure (and antiquated yet postmodern) first entry in Stereolab’s superabundant catalog foreshadowed greatness. Peng! is 30.
Is Rosalía’s ‘MOTOMAMI’ an Altermodern Art Piece?
Just as altermodern culture materializes “trajectories rather than destinations”, Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI concerns the freedom to create and explore pathways.
Erica Eso’s ‘192’ Is a Weird and Lovable Mishmash of Art-pop
Erica Eso’s 192 sports classic pop and vintage soul elements, but surprises abound at nearly every turn. It’s full of skittish, multifaceted earworms.
Pictish Trail’s ‘Island Family’ Immersive Encounter With Place and Time
Born of quarantine isolation, Pictish Trail’s Island Family explores connections to place and time. Its creativity offers a challenging authenticity.
Tomato Flower Unleash a Weird, Charming Mix of Indie Pop on ‘Gold Arc’
Baltimore’s Tomato Flower straddle a variety of genres to make something fun and impossible to categorize with ‘Gold Arc’ and its experimental pop.
Shamir Thrills with New Album ‘Heterosexuality’
Pop renaissance man Shamir channels trauma, rage, and feelings of angst, and in response to our troubled times, he’s released an album of uncommon beauty.
Animal Collective Give Us Their Most Accessible Album with ‘Time Skiffs’
Time Skiffs finds Animal Collective in a calm, contemplative state yet places them closer in style to most indie rock bands.
Elena Setién’s ‘Unfamiliar Minds’ Basks in Quietly Foreboding Minimalism
Immersion into Elena Setién’s Unfamiliar Minds is not unlike watching a bowl being coaxed into shape on a potter’s wheel. The slightest touches can send it in another direction.
Kate Bush Created a Winter Wonderland on ’50 Words For Snow’ 10 Years Ago
Kate Bush’s 50 Words For Snow is a jazzy wonderland of mystical creatures and fleeting romance with nuanced themes of impermanence and ephemeral love.
