XYZR_KX, whatever that bizarre acronym stands for, is about pure joy. While I listened to this, the best of Nathan Michel and other similar folk-electronic hybrids came to mind. “Secession in Astropolis” has the same attention to detail and sound as much of Michel’s work. In fact, to take the similarities even further Jon Monteverde even has a similar flat yet effective vocal delivery.
The whole thing has a delicate touch. Beginning with “The Outer Splines” may give the listener the impression of an isolationist electronic act. Part of the joy of this track is the extraordinarily slow buildup to an electro-pop song which rearranges pieces of the mournful beginning into something new and energetic, complete with a beat.
I enjoy the longer songs on here. It’s on those longer songs that I get to experience Jon’s song buildups. Most of the buildups are joyous events, filled with a certain amount of kinetic energy. The giddiness of some of these tracks is positively infectious, particularly when it goes for a near collapse of the track itself, as is the case on “Cranes”, a particularly grand track which displays some of Jon’s guitar playing along with a bit of vulnerability.
“Secession in Astropolis” has an intimate sound. Every song feels small, on the verge of some small breakdown. Of course it never gets there but the mere tease of it is more than enough. The guitar on here has a breezy feel to it, reminding me of the best of the Sea and Cake’s laid back attitudes. Overall XYZR_KX has created crisp, happy little album.
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