Madison via New Jersey experimental pop artist Julian Lynch’s new album, Lines, is out this week on Underwater Peoples. A full-time UW anthropology/ethnomusicology student and part-time musician, Lynch grew up in Ridgewood, NJ with friends Real Estate and Ducktails. While Lynch’s sound has obvious differences, his laid-back vibe channels a similar aesthetic. Lynch’s music brings to mind words like earthy or organic. While he uses a fair share of synthesizers and electronics, there’s a bucolic element to Lynch’s sound that remains regardless of what instrumentation he may be using. A skillful musician, Lynch uses and plays nearly everything from bass clarinet to drums.
“Carios kelleyi I,” the first single off Lines, is a good showcase of Lynch’s strengths. With a rollicking, winding 6/8 beat and Lynch’s 12-string guitar, the track builds layers and layers of sound. Lynch’s voice, a thin and gentle whisper, is deep in the mix and used as another instrument. Lynch has said that while he doesn’t consider himself a singer, he likes to have singing on his songs. “Carios kelleyi I” culminates with a noisy interlude and some gorgeous harmonized guitars. Lynch’s ability to craft comforting sounds is evident, but something slightly unsettled seems to linger beneath the sweetness; he’ll often juxtapose jarring, noisy tones with his melodies for a result all the more interesting.