Emeralds

There are often two categories of electronic music: that which looks back and that which looks forward. But it's truly special when both hit head-on to become a twisted digital/analog mass that transcends time, space and genre to become one classic piece of work. Such is the case with Emeralds' Does It Look Like I'm Here?, the Cleveland, OH trio's Editions Mego debut. Following a handful of under-the-radar full-lengths and a dizzying array of limited releases, Emeralds have come out of leftfield to drop one of 2010's most tripped-out and ambitious outings, where new school digital blip-bleep rides right beside decades-old kosmische wizardry, to stunning effect. Think Michael Rother and Ashra walking into a bar only to pair up with M83 and Fennesz, and you're only getting close to what Emeralds have cooked up. While the heavy Krautrock stance may sound familiar to Emeralds followers, never have the group embraced such a compact and melodic format, with repeated bursts of electrified bliss replacing the once sprawling synth séances. The result: a landmark album for Emeralds, and electronic music at large.