LANDy- Eros and Emissions (Apology Music)
I can't think of too many actor turned musician stints that actually panned out well (Eddie Murphy, Scarlett Johansson, Lindsey Lohan etc.). Adam Goldberg's name may not be as known as any of his counterparts, but you've probably seen him in plenty of comedies playing the fast talking, witty, awkward, young jewish intellectual who's likely to stammer over his own words while still making you laugh (my personal favorite is his role as Eddie on 'Friends' where he's Chandler's roommate).
Sure, he may not be as recognizable as some of his peers in the acting turned music field, what he lacks in visibility he makes up for in talent. Seeing as Goldberg is mostly regarded for his comedic roles, I was surprised to hear his music being about as far away as you can be from laughing.
'Eros and Emissions' is a collection of moody, dreamy, atmospheric shoegaze pop. Goldberg, with the help of Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd, paints songs of surreal high and lows, with intricate and precise instrumentation, songs that are layered in depressive ebbs and also escalating to euphoric climaxes.
An eclectic array of numbers, Goldberg is capable of paralleling Elliott Smith, Justin Timberlake, and even hints at The Beatles. Each song paints a distinct portrait of Goldberg's anxiety and the unusual song arrangements are mixed with esoteric wordplay that is often cynical but suits the tone of the songs perfectly ('I just want to be a tumor and live inside you').
Ultimately, a very accomplished collection of heavily layered melancholy indie/pop songs. It's pretty safe to say you've never heard anything that sounds quite like LANDy...
Available June 23
