Sylvan Esso's New Sound: Diffuse and Disconnected

Sylvan Esso's newest album, 'No Rules Sandy,' embraces a diffuse and improvisational style, a departure that has left critics feeling it's sterile. The electronic pop duo, known for embedding intricate details in their songs, has shifted to a more experimental soundscape with this project.

Recorded primarily in three weeks at a rented studio in east Los Angeles earlier this year, 'No Rules Sandy' spans dance tracks, interludes, and an acoustic ballad. This marks their most discordant release to date, reflecting an improvisational approach championed by singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn.

However, the album's common thread is a curated sense of dissociation. Tracks like "How Did You Know" feature smeared vocals over hazy beats, with Meath's lyrics questioning self-awareness. Similarly, "Your Reality" explores fumbling with normalcy amidst synth and violin stabs, reflecting on learned behaviors versus innate ones.