Particle By Particle

Simon Bookish “Synchrotron” – Simon Bookish sounds like a cartoon professor in a musical theater production on his latest record. There’s this great, manic thrill in his voice as he sings about science in a tone that is half conspiratorial, and half child-like enthusiasm for the coolest stuff ever. The main body of “Synchrotron” is a peppy, nervous number driven by synthesizer grooves, but accented by brief, clean horn bleets, but the arrangement eventually melts into an extended instrumental coda that seems to abstractly dramatize the workings of an actual synchrotron. (Click here to buy it from Tomlab.)

Chad VanGaalen “Phantom Anthills” – Maybe one in four Chad VanGaalen tracks features keyboards and/or electronic textures, but he really ought to consider upping that average because the sound suits his melodies and the plaintive tone of his voice rather well. In “Phantom Anthills,” the beat and cool textures seem to shift around his voice and guitar, leaving him sounding grounded and firm amid the fluxuations in his environment. It’s not drastic enough to make the track feel totally unstable, but there is certainly a feeling of uncertainty through the piece that makes the earthy, folky elements in the arrangement seem more gentle and reassuring. (Click here to buy it from Sub Pop.)

Exciting Pop Songs Update!: Michael Stipe has volunteered to answer questions about specific R.E.M. songs and lyrics on Pop Songs! If you have a question for Michael, the information is in this post!

I am ridiculously excited about this, and flattered beyond all belief.