Hawnay Troof, Islands of Ayle. How excellent indeed when experimental music is also entirely listenable. That’s the beauty of Oakland electro-agitator Hawnay (née Vice Cooler) Troof’s second album, which applies a left-field electronica sensibility to the sort of gritty, urban dance-pop that’s made a resurgence around here recently. Although nothing short of cutting-edge, Islands sounds fantastic. (Southern Records)
momu, Momentum. San Francisco’s thriving electronic scene can seem out-of-reach to fans unwilling or unable to make a second home at the clubs. Progressive breaks innovators JD Moyer and Mark Musselman bridge the gap by complementing their weekly experimental breakbeat show with this headphone-worthy and pop-friendly collection of original songs. (Loöq Records)
Brian Kelly, Afterplay. Brian Kelly’s piano-based instrumental music has a whiff of new age, but don’t hold that against it. Throughout Afterplay, the swing and complexity of melodic jazz and the studio precision of Steely Dan counteract any inherent wishy-washiness. Sax, flute, trumpet, trombone, and more help Kelly’s quiet compositions make a confident statement. (SkyLight Music)
Painted Bird, Always on Time and Never Light EP. While Painted Bird’s second EP is available for free on MySpace, it sounds best on the limited-edition extra-heavy vinyl the band issued to complement its all-analog recording by Tim Green’s Louder Studios. The San Francisco duo plays sludgy math-punk songs with spoken lyrics — though at about 45 seconds each, they’re more like demos. (RFC Records)
