SOFT FALL

Soft Fall is about as lush as electronic-based pop music can get. Jon Barthmus literally floods your ears with gorgeous textures, strings, and beats. Close sounds a bit like Coldplay if Coldplay were not so cloying, and the title track is a pulsating rhythmic experience that sounds inspired by New Order. On the surface, Soft Fall sounds less direct than Sun Airway's debut, Nocturne of the Exploded Crystal Chandelier, but it also reveals itself to be deeper and more pop-oriented the more you listen to it. The centerpiece is Symphony in White, a rush of classical strings, dance beats, and Barthmus's echo chamber vocals. In short, if you like dance music, synth-pop, indie music with a flourish, or just want to try something new and rewarding, this is a great choice. You then need to check out Sun Airway's debut, as well as Barthmus's previous band, the A-sides.