Air

The follow-up to 2015's Mister Divine, Air is the third album from Naytronix, the solo project of tUnE-yArDs bassist Nate Brenner. Though largely the effort of Brenner alone, its dense textures include contributions from guests such as tUnE-yArDs' Merrill Garbus and Mwahaha's Ross Peacock, both of whom co-produced some of the album. Leaning into darker, bolder sounds, it slides along the spectrum from whimsical, experimental electro-pop toward nightclub-ready synth pop without fully arriving at the latter. The album's more anxious world view becomes evident from the brooding opener, "I'm Becoming You." Spontaneous percussion and glitchy electronic interjections embellish the throbbing, melodic track, which still offers a rousing dance chorus. Much of the album follows that song's off-balance formula, though more experimental entries, like "Actor in My Favorite Show," challenge even adjusted expectations. That track's hazier, yet still dance-encouraging presentation consists of talk-singing and a less discernable chorus. Elsewhere, the hyperkinetic drums and circular melodic phrases of "Following a Pattern" hold a tension all their own beside repeated, dissatisfied lyrics, and "Dead Bird" addresses destructive greed with an agitated funk and lyrics like "If I finally have the things I crave/Bury me inside my golden grave." Often suffocating and catchy at once, Air closes with the soporific "Movie." Replete with druggy layered echo and vocal samples, which include spoken dialogue and screams, it wraps up with a flickering, drum-less denouement that, in keeping with the album's anxiety, implies the house lights turn on abruptly. Taken together, Air's deeper grooves may seduce some listeners while its bleaker tone may not be welcomed by certain established fans. ~ Marcy Donelson