Ian Wayne Combines Gorgeous Melodies with Experimental Touches on ‘I Can’t Sleep’
The third solo album, I Can’t Sleep, from Ian Wayne is a low-key masterpiece that embraces classic pop with plenty of odd, disarming musical gestures.
experimental pop
Perera Elsewhere Goes Elsewhere on ‘Home’
Toning down the doom-folk, Perera Elsewhere grounds Home‘s sound closer in line with the vibe of her DJ sets, aiming for more rise than fall in the mix.
Jockstrap Stretch Pop Music and the Notation of Genre
Jockstrap’s experimental pop makes their debut I Love You Jennifer a bewildering yet rewarding listen. Jockstrap play with expectations to keep listeners on their toes.
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.
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.
