Passion Pit

Modern day synth-pop pioneer Michael Angelakos delivers an overwhelming and varied listening experience on Passion Pit's Gossamer, the follow-up to the band's 2009 breakout, Manners. That's not to say their debut was by any means subdued. Culminating with the crystalline synths and pitch-shifted vocals of lead single "Sleepyhead," Angelakos gained the admiration of the chillwave community and spots on multiple indie playlists for his brand of sugary pop and dark atmospherics. On Gossamer, the group continue following the blueprint laid out in Manners, but turn everything up to 11, delivering glitch-pop heaven on the soft, synth-laden "I'll Be Alright," Talking Heads-infused funk on "Carried Away" and orchestral pop on "Love is Greed." But the strength of Gossamer lies in Angelakos's Technicolor vocals, camouflaging his anxiety-ridden lyrics in Beach Boys harmonies on "On My Way," the new age soul of "Constant Conversations" and the Ezra Koenig-inspired, anthemic croon of closer "Where We Belong," creating a joyfully manic album that shines bright in today's sea of bedroom recorded electro-pop.