Scott Waters

Vibes For Miles

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to Vibes For Miles

The guitarist and singer-songwriter Scott Waters returns with his sophomore album, where his throwback nods come with forthright lyrics and no shortage of agile melodies.

“Love Is Gonna Find You” opens the listen with soaring guitar alongside Waters’ bright and warm vocals in a very heartfelt introduction, and “Anything She Wants” follows with a charming and pop influenced display that’s not lacking playful harmonies.

Elsewhere, “We Don’t Talk Anymore” flows with plenty of blues nods, while “The Other Side” flirts with retro folk-rock in a very clever and busy delivery. “Mile High Lucy And Her Rainbow Shine” then resides firmly in the ‘60s with its crisp drumming, dreamy guitars and anthemic singing.

“Spaceships And Soda” arrives near the end and displays firm piano and sturdy melodies, and “Whiskey Nights” exits the listen with a duet that’s saxophone friendly and poetic amid much beauty.

Waters is diverse enough to bring cello, slide guitar and brass into his formula, as each track here brings new surprises and stands out on its own as radio ready in any decade since the ‘60s.

Travels well with: Damon Mitchell- Like You’re In A Dream; Brad Byrd- Where Were You When The World Stopped?

Going Up North

Waiting For The Sun

Apollon, 2021

9/10

Listen to Waiting For The Sun

A Bergen, Norway outfit whose formula certainly makes us nostalgic for the sounds of rock’s past but who aren’t strangers to balladry and even punk moments, Going Up North return with a sophomore album that continues their very enjoyable song craft.

“Twenty More Years” opens the listen with plenty of melody and rhythm as sturdy riffs and an energetic rhythm section flow with much grit, and “I Can Hear You Calling” follows with expressive singing alongside the ‘70s swagger that’s quite jangly, too.

“Spirit” lands in the middle and offers a bare, folksy strummer with gorgeous female vocals, while “Planet Nine” resides in retro-rock territory with its groove filled landscape. “The Winds In Chicago” then gets a bit rugged with a thicker appeal of fluid dynamics and much attention to structure.

Nearing the end, “Fade Away” is a busy and crisp rocker that’s full of driving melodies and soaring backing vocals, and “Little Sparrow” exits the listen with a bit of mystery amid the hazy delivery.

Yet another exciting and diverse rock focused band from Norway, Going Up North make the most of every second here, and it ends up being 10 tracks of eclectic and charming rock’n’roll.

Travels well with: Alwanzatar- Den Glemte Dalen; Tusmørke- Nordisk Krim

Might Brank

The Masks

Carton, 2021

8/10

Listen to The Masks

The recording moniker of the very talented Emmanuel Scarpa, as Might Brank he brings his vast experiences with both punk and classical, and many places in between, to this drum focused journey.

“Tempus reductionis” opens the listen with harmonic singing alongside playful percussion and plenty of Eastern influences inhabiting the layered climate, and “Onomato” follows with soothing chanting that flows into an ominous quality of medieval like sounds.

In the middle, “onoff” gets quite primitive with its furious and precise drumming acrobatics, while “Sur la harpe” gets a bit hazy and drones with a progressive appeal that’s hypnotic. “Circum ambulatio” exits the listen, and benefits from mysterious percussion and drumming that truly showcases the immense skill that Scarpa possesses.

ASBA drums, gongs, jiny cymbals, Chinese cymbal, bells, metal tubes wood block, voice, vocoder and effects pedals are all handled by Scarpa here, and it’s about as unusual a listen as those instruments imply. It’s also alluring in a trance-like and spiritual sort of way.

Travels well with: Timothée Quost- Flatten The Curve; Trojan Panda- Peau

Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O

Umdali

Mushroom Hour Half Hour, 2021

8/10

Listen to Umdali

The Johannesburg multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jiyane is in some fine company here, as he handles trombone and sparing vocals on this rhythmic, textured and highly unique listen that flirts with jazz and funk in very exciting, unpredictable ways.

“Senzo seNkosi” opens the listen with Nhlanhla Mahlangu’s alto saxophone, Tebogo Seitei’s trumpet and Brandon Ruiters’ trumpet working together with the cultured drumming and warm keys of the lush climate, and “Umkhumbi kaMa” follows with soulful brass and Lungile Kunene’s proficient drumming highlighting the cautious landscape.

“Ntate Gwangwa’s Stroll” lands in the middle and emits much beauty in the subdued and powerful and timeless jazz delivery, while “Life Esidimeni” flows with Nkosinathi Mathunjwa’s graceful keys alongside Ayanda Zalekile’s strategic bass prowess.

The final track, “Moshe”, benefits much from Tubatsi Mpho Moloi’s soulful singing amid the playful drumming and spirited horns that easily makes this the record’s best track.

An effort that certainly doesn’t lack solos, Jiyane has made quite a name for himself in the South African Jazz Scene, and this excellent affair should resonate across the globe with its rare melodic energy and ability to stretch the boundaries of jazz like few others could.

Travels well with: Blue Reality Quartet!- Blue Reality Quartet!; Wesli- Rapadou Kreyol

Petr Bakla

Usableness Of The List Portfolio

Octopus Press, 2021

8/10

Listen to Usableness Of The List Portfolio

A very involved listen that gathers a pair of pieces by Petr Bakla and that are fleshed out by Miroslav Beinhauer for solo piano, the lengthy compositions embrace minimal and avant-garde ideas and are handled with much care.

“Usableness of the list (books XX, XXI)” opens the listen with calm, agile keys that spend 20 minutes mesmerizing us with both classical and contemporary nods while being fleshed out with incredible attention to detail. The journey touches on all-interval twelve-tone rows that originated in the ‘60s, and illustrates Beinhauer’s versatile performance.

“Portfolio (measures 1-645)” is the final track, and it leads with bare, dreamy song craft that remains quite gentle and moody for the entire 47 minute duration, as reductionist and basic techniques are explored with fascinating dexterity.

The extremely meticulous listen comes with very in depth liner notes, and surely shouldn’t be missed by those with an ear for experimental, classical, modern and avant-garde piano prowess.

Travels well with: Gotterfunken- Beethoven/Symphony 9; HyeJin Kim- Miroirs

Maygen & The Birdwatcher

Moonshine

AntiFragile, 2021

8/10

Listen to Moonshine

An outfit spearheaded by Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann, as Maygen & The Birdwatcher the pair are in the company of Ethan (bass) and Jesse Moravec (fiddle, mandolin), Nik Pellinen (banjo, electric guitar) and Peter Anderson (drums) for a very folk, bluegrass and country friendly delivery.

“Change Is” opens the listen with soft vocals and bare percussion in an almost gospel sort of way that’s quite impactful in its sparseness, and “Dominé” follows with warm banjo amid a very rootsy appeal that’s full of gritty and pretty vocals from Lacey and Neumann.

Entering the middle, the swift fiddle and acoustic guitar of “Full Moons” makes for a timeless folk climate that benefits from poetic singing, while “Antidote” is a gorgeous display of Maygen’s stunning singing alongside mandolin, double bass and banjo.

Nearing the end, “Gunflint Lake” offers a cautious and pretty Americana influenced album highlight where Maygen’s range is on full display in a very eloquent landscape, and “Anytime” exits the listen a bit more rugged in its powerful and raw demeanor.

The inclusion of strings to Lacey and Neumann’s rootsy formula is certainly a nice addition, and their unique brand of Americana fits in quite well in the very fertile Twin Cities music scene.

Travels well with: The Jayhawks- XOXO; Sad Daddy- Way Up In The Hills

Chris Trinidad

Certain Times

Self-Titled, 2015

8/10

Listen to Certain Times

The veteran musician Chris Trinidad brings his bass guitar to these memorable melodies and riffs, where Charlie Gurke’s saxophone, Alex Conde’s piano and Aaron Kierbel’s drums are in attendance for a spirited jazz affair that also flirts with ECM.

Trinidad starts the listen with the lively jazz spirit of “Inevitable Evolution”, where the soulful brass is met with agile keys that are anchored by the strategic bass, and “Something New In The Unfamiliar” follows with flowing drums amid the low sax prowess.

Deeper yet, “Finding Somewhere Forever” trims the pace back with a very introspective flavor that’s quite intimate, while “A Reading In Retrospect” bounces and shakes with a mesmerizing quality that’s full of dynamic interplay between the quartet.

The final two tracks, called the ‘Encore’ selections, offer us the gorgeous and stylish “Jungle Street”, where the rhythm section is particularly luminous, and the diverse jazz of “Priority” that glides with a quick delivery of timeless jazz sensibilities.

Interestingly enough, Trinidad would go on to interpret this album in 2021 during the pandemic, where he put a very interesting spin on these already excellent tracks as Changing Tides. Both albums, however, are certainly worth repeated spins for the jazz inclined.

Travels well with: Chris Trinidad- Changing Tides; Wesli- Rapadou Kreyol

Stephanie Blythe/William Burden/Steven Blier

From Rags To Riches: 100 Years Of American Song

Nyfos, 2022

9/10

Listen to From Rags To Riches: 100 Years Of American Song

An extremely well thought affair, the New York Festival Of Song label brings together Stephanie Blythe and William Burden’s vocals to Steven Blier’s piano on this live recording that spans art songs, musical theater, jazz and even opera.

“Pineapple Rag” leads the listen with Blier’s warm, intricate keys alongside Blythe’s stunning mezzo-soprano in the very expressive opener, and “My Lady Frog” follows with Burden’s precise tenor alongside the dancing keys as the two deliver much beauty and playfulness.

Further into the listen, “Nickel Under The Foot” pairs spoken word with the soulful piano playing, while “Nocturne” emits a dreamy quality amid Burden’s cautious pipes. “Thousands Of Miles” then showcases Blythe’s powerful voice alongside the graceful key work.

Moving towards the end, “The Ballad Of Booth” is a bouncy and energetic mix of singing and talking set to hypnotic piano, and “How Can I Keep Them From Singing” exits the listen with a firm operatic approach that makes a lasting impression.

An extremely powerful and flexible listen that can also be quite comical, themes of class struggle, feminism and immigration are highlighted in a very articulate fashion that sometimes makes it seem like you’re listening to a play, and it’s executed flawlessly.

Travels well with: Andrew Lloyd Webber- Symphonic Suites; Daniil Trifonov- BACH: The Art Of Life

Chris Trinidad

Changing Tides

Iridium, 2021

8/10

Listen to Changing Tides

The San Francisco artist Chris Trinidad made the most of his pandemic time by reimagining his 2014 album, Certain Times, where, thanks to technology, he transforms the songs into big band compositions via his many colleagues spanning several countries.

“Inevitable Evolution” opens the disc with bright brass, crisp drumming and plenty of rhythm and grooves as Evan Francis’ flute makes quite an impression, and “Something New In The Familiar” follows with cultured drumming amid soulful horns as a timeless jazz climate unfolds.

In the middle, “Finding Somewhere Forever” offers a very warm and dreamy display of subdued and gorgeous song craft, while “A Reading In Retrospect” benefits from Christian Tumalan’s precise piano alongside the stylish and playful landscape.

“Transcending December” lands near the end and brings flutes back to the percussively strong setting thanks to José Sanchez, and “Though Certainly Speaking” exits the listen frisky and upbeat with Trinidad’s skilled bass guitar making the infectious finish that much more enticing.

Certainly a listen geared towards those with an ear for big band, jazz orchestra and contemporary jazz, fans of legends like Gil Evans, Stan Kenton and Kenny Wheeler should also keep an ear towards Trinidad.

Travels well with: Wesli- Rapadou Kreyol; Chris Trinidad- Chant Triptych II

Life On Mars

At Stars End

Extremely Huge, 2021

9/10

Listen to At Stars End

Earl Kayoss and Fernando Perdomo return with their 5th album as Life On Mars, where Danny Seiwell handles drums and they flesh out a very diverse and nostalgic rock’n’roll focused affair.

“Only One” opens the listen with warm acoustic guitar and gritty singing in a dreamy, folk-friendly sort of way, and “Hurricane Jane” follows with a fuller approach that benefits from spirited guitar work that unfolds with some psyche-rock tendencies.

Elsewhere, “Stray Dog” is a loud, retro-rocker that’s got some blues and classic rock nods buried in the busy landscape, while “The Key” offers a thick and turbulent album highlight against a cosmic backdrop. “Nancy’s Finger”, another excellent track, then soars high with plenty of rawness amid the buzzing melodies.

At the end, “Wanting” is quite pretty in its soulful and harmonic progressions, and “Only One” finishes with just Kayoss solo across the bare but impactful exit that shows yet another avenue to his songwriting.

Kayoss has penned over 700 songs, and though I’ve only heard a small chunk of those, I feel pretty confident that these are among his best, where detailed guitar work and powerful song craft make each track a stand out.

Travels well with: Life On Mars- Observer; R. Stevie Moore- Afterlife

The Hoodoo Loungers

So Beautiful

Paradiddle, 2022

8/10

Listen to So Beautiful

A Long Island, New York outfit who take much inspiration from the sounds of New Orleans, The HooDoo Loungers bring us a dozen originals and 3 interpretations of Americana roots classics on this very eclectic and impressive effort.

The title track opens the listen with bright brass, warm organ and soulful, expressive singing to guide the powerful climate, and “Hoodoo Time Machine” follows with lively percussion, no shortage of rhythm and many vocals harmonizing in the New Orleans flavored delivery.

Moving down the line, “Hit The Ground” recruits plenty of melody to the swingin’ rock’n’roll landscape, while “Yes We Can Can” benefits from animated keys, well timed horns and smooth, agile singing. “Fast And Loose” might be the album’s best, and moves quickly with a gospel slant to its retro rock’n’roll spirit.

Nearing the end, “Rockin’ The Mardi Gras” certainly could soundtrack the occasion with its infectious energy, and “Another (Hunkered-Down) Day” exits the listen with a throwback rock feel that’s a bit jangly in its diverse formula.

For those who appreciate the work of legends like Louie Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Trombone Shorty, So Beautiful is a listen that’s packed with much charm, originality and timelessness as The HooDoo Loungers touch on gospel, R&B, jazz and funk like few others can.

Travels well with: Willie Nile- The Day The Earth Stood Still; Dori Freeman- Ten Thousand Roses

Nick Maclean

Can You Hear Me?

Browntasaurus, 2021

8/10

Listen to Can You Hear Me?

Not too many artists are willing to assemble a double album for their debut solo release, but the piano extraordinaire Nick Maclean doesn’t seem to be concerned with such formalities as he interprets standards and brings us originals on this very diverse affair.

“Dolphin Dance” opens the listen with elegant and playful keys that emit much warmth in Maclean’s timeless vision, and “All Of You” follows with flowing melody and intricate but easily accessible song craft that’s immediately memorable.

Further on in disc 1, “Rational Disclosure”, an original, gets a bit rowdy amid the firm key strokes and spoken word bits, while “Circle Of Influence” spends 14 minutes gracing us with a gorgeous and intimate landscape that’s part waltz and part firm chord progressions.

The 2nd disc is equally well thought out, and includes the stirring and sublime medley “Blackbirds”, while “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” pairs talking with frisky bouts of dazzling finger acrobatics. “Zion” exits the listen, and is an entirely spontaneous improvisation that’s inspired by Lauryn Hill.

The producer Brownman Ali is onboard here, and he helps shape this daring first album into a contemplative, adventurous and unpredictable endeavor that never out welcomes its stay.

Travels well with: Noam Lemish- Erlebnisse; Philippe Côté With Marc Copland- Bell Tolls Variations

Justin Morell

Exit Music For Intelligent Life On Earth

Sonic Frenzy, 2022

8/10

Listen to Exit Music For Intelligent Life On Earth

The 7th album from the guitarist and composer Justin Morell, Exit Music For Intelligent Life On Earth offers 21 short pieces that tell the story of global climate sections, from the warming of one degree that exists today, to the melting, warming and forming of new deserts to come in the future.

“One Degree” opens the listen with warm and soothing guitar lines as well timed percussion enters the mature jazz landscape, and “Contagion” follows with a similar, sophisticated approach that makes quite an impression in just over a minute with its cautious yet playful demeanor.

Elsewhere, “Anoxia” flows with a hypnotic delivery that makes the most out of the timeless melody, while “True Polar Wander” shimmers with fascinating chord progressions in a very jazz friendly climate. “Xerocoles” then shifts into the Desert Forms portion of the listen, as a bright energy unfolds between the guitar and drums.

New Home exits the listen, and showcases a dreamy personality in the pretty “Homestead”, and “Life Underground” exits the listen with Morell’s sublime attention to detail putting a firm exclamation point on the accomplished effort.

Morell uses 20 different guitars on the listen, and together with Mark Feber on drums he brings jazz, classical and rock ideas into a very heartfelt, poetic and gorgeous body of work.

Travels well with: Steve Million- Jazz Words; Matt Panayides- Field Theory

GÖTTERFUNKEN

Beethoven/Symphony 9

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Beethoven/Symphony 9

A very daring effort from Eliane Rodrigues and Nina Smeets, the pair bring grand pianos with them as they take inspiration from a transcription from the composer Frank Liszt and interpret Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

“Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso” opens the listen, and brings the warm, complicated keys into much atmosphere, tension and dark beauty that flows with incredible precision, and “Molto vivace” follows with dancing keys amid a low rumbling of mystery and elegance.

The back half offers the intimate and gorgeous “Adagio molto e cantabile”, where the keystrokes are just so delicate and emotional, while “Finale” is a firm, even abrasive 29+ minutes of exploration that can retreat to calm and also burst with loud bouts, too.

Rodrigues and Smeets are actually mother and daughter, and that familial bond certainly strengthens their chemistry as they put a very inimitable spin on these classic works.

Travels well with: Duo Dramatique- Crossroads: Modern American Works For Violin & Piano; Stanley Grill- Remember

Batila

Tatamana

Gema, 2021

8/10

Listen Tatamana

The debut album from the Congolese/Angolan artist Batila, Tatamana brings a wealth of sounds and themes to this very eclectic listen, where ideas like freedom, black love, and self-doubt are explored via his strong attention to rhythm.

“Blacklove” opens the listen with flowing and intricate acoustic guitar, as Batila’s soulful and very eloquent singing guides the very cultured melodies, and “Kindoki” follows with playful percussion amid the warm keys, bass and percussion.

Deeper into the listen, “Afreekan” offers a dreamy acoustic tune alongside the poetic singing in the bare atmosphere, while “Far Too Long” gets festive with its soothing backing vocals and very precise drumming. “I Need To Go” then recruits well timed horns for the jazz tinted, world music climate.

Approaching the end, “Zola” is layered meticulously with Batila’s strong vocal acrobatics front and center, and “Jazzybelle” exits the listen with a hint of R&B in the captivating fusion finish.

All 15 tracks here were penned by Batila and are sung in English and Lingala. The specific messages in each track illuminate his thoughtful vision, and the many players on hand help cultivate a very exciting Afrobeat, jazz, soul, and world music affair.

Travels well with: Divahn- Shalhevet; Cúnao- Rayuela

Saath-Saath

Re/Semblance: An India-China Musical Collaboration

Ansonica, 2021

8/10

Listen to Re/Semblance: An India-China Musical Collaboration

A very unique collaboration between Indian and Chinese musicians and a Cantopop lyricist, the 2 discs here bring much cross-cultural experience with plenty of Hindustani influence to be found.

Disc 1, Shanghai, opens the disc with carefully plucked, bare strings that benefit from smooth, harmonic singing, and “Qarlygash- The Swallow” follows with soothing, gorgeous singing alongside the strategic percussion.

Deeper into this portion, “Appreciating The Lotus” illustrates gorgeous vocal harmonies amid a dreamy, cultured climate, and “Maya, The Swindler” finishes Shanghai with sublime singing that softly chants in a very intimate fashion.

Disc 2 is just as absorbing, and leads with the spoken word focused and drum friendly “When The New Century Comes”, and “Never Explain The World” continues with poetic storytelling and eloquent singing working together.

Further still, “Krishna At Moonset” showcases fluid drumming and percussion and “Away To Your City” exits the listen with quivering strings and a rare vulnerability that’s quite stirring.

The Indian voices from Chow Yiu-Fai, Omkarnath Havaldar, Rutuja Lad, Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy, Zhe Lai, and Zhang Yi, and the yangqin from Kimho Ip, pipa from Zhang Yi, tabla by Kedarnath Havaldar and harmonium courtesy of Sameer Havaldar makes for an inter-cultural listening adventure that’s makes an indelible impression.

Travels well with: Eight Strings & A Whistle- … and nothing remains. the same…; The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- The Suite

Eric Krasno

Always

Provogue, 2021

8/10

Listen to Always

The Grammy Award winning guitarist Eric Krasno returns with this 4th solo album, where themes of family surround his many grooves, hooks and strong attention to structure.

“Silence” opens the listen with crisp drumming and warm guitar complementing Krasno’s soulful and expressive singing in the bluesy, jazzy setting, and “So Cold” follows with plenty of funk spirit entering the calm, hazy melody.

Approaching the middle, the timeless blues flavor of “The Man In Me” is easy to enjoy, which benefits from spirited guitar and subtle keys, while “Alone Together” radiates a dreamy demeanor amid the poetic singing and breezy landscape. “Leave Me Alone”, the album’s best, then bounces and glides with a very modern energy.

Near the end, “Hold Tight” emits a nearly R&B delivery with its cozy organ, eloquent singing and romantic vibe, and “Always With You” exits the listen with Victoria Canal on hand for a very pretty and lush finish that is all substance and no flash.

Krasno has quite an impressive body of work already, including several albums from both Lettuce and Soulive, and with Always he welcomes us into his family life, and it illustrates yet another avenue of his diverse and exceptional artistry.

Travels well with: Dumpstaphunk- Where Do We Go From Here; Pimps Of Joytime- Jukestone Paradise

Eight Strings & A Whistle

… and nothing remains. the same…

Ravello, 2021

9/10

Listen … and nothing remains. the same…

A flute-viola-cello trio who are well versed in Baroque, Classical, and Romantic sounds, … and nothing remains. the same… puts focus on contemporary composers on this very exciting listen.

“Loki’s Lair” opens the listen with much warm atmosphere, as the strings and flute interact with much grace, mood and emotion, and “Maqam” follows with several segments that emit a bit of mystery amid a cinematic quality.

In the middle, “Two Journeys” manipulates the stings with a low, nearly sci-fi exploration in the very cautious landscape, while the title track is a minimal yet powerful display of sublime and very precise chemistry between the viola and cello.

“Souls” exits the listen blurry, ambient and superbly textured in a very adventurous execution that you won’t soon forget.

An experience that’s rich with harmony but also touches on abrasive ideas, there’s a rare intimacy to be found here, and it all unfolds with incredible meticulousness.

Travels well with: Carl Vollrath- Transit Voices; The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- The Suite

Duo Dramatique

Crossroads: Modern American Works For Violin & Piano

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Crossroads: Modern American Works For Violin & Piano

Dominika Dancewicz brings her violin to Donald Doucet’s piano prowess on this firm and well thought out affair, where they interpret the works of Arthur Gottschalk, Karl Blench and Erberk Eryilmaz.

“Sonata For Violin And Piano” opens the listen with 3 segments, where the strings and keys interact swiftly, calmly and with much playfulness, as the duo illustrate incredible depth and skill amid plenty of precision.

“Sonata In D” then occupies the middle spot, and brings a bit of tension to the very cautious landscape that welcomes manipulated violin and mesmerizing piano.

The listen exits on the rumbling and quick “Insistent Music”, where an energetic pace unfolds with a cinematic appeal that could soundtrack a chase scene with its sharp melodies.

A effort that truly defies any easy classification, the pair bring plenty of mood, humor and personality to these jazz friendly and European folk influenced gems that are as infectious as they are unique.

Travels well with: Thomas Bowes- Telemann Fantasias: 12 Fantasias For Solo Violin; Stanley Grill- Remember

Futurist

Omens

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Omens

Brooklyn outfit Futurist describe their sound as ‘future-classic’, which might seem like a contradiction, though it sounds about right when you consider their light vs. dark and minimal vs. busy approach on Omens.

“Slow Motion” gets the album off to an ambient and psyche-filled start, as a soulful and energetic version of alt-rock enters, and “Bad Air, Still Water” follows with a light and airy approach that builds into a lush expanse of meticulous delivery.

In the middle, “Olive Mountain” finds a more pop place to reside with charming restraint, while “All I Ever Wanted” brings a soothing spirit to their multifaceted skill.

Near the end, “Crazy Eights” recruits saxophones on the elegant soft-rocker, and “Born On Fire” picks up the pace into a percussively strong and bouncy setting to the anthemic, spacey highlight. “Behold! (Lullaby For The End Of Days)” ends the listen with abstract balladry the pushes and pulls with mysterious, graceful tension.

While they may have started their career immersed in indie-folk territory, these days Futurist have spread their wings into a mashing of many genres that fans of Pink Floyd and My Morning Jacket- and everywhere in between- will enjoy.

Travels well with: The Flaming Lips- Kings Mouth; Radiohead- In Rainbows