Windmill Music is the brain child of Michigan multi-instrumentalist Kent Randell, who enlists a small army of musicians for this really unique and unclassifiable record that seems like pop music at first, but with many dimensions.

The bright and complicated “We Woke Up :: Shirtless Man, Garage Full Of Everything (Chassell, Mich.)” begins with Evan Potila’s drums and Josh LaMere’s bass anchoring the shimmering post-rock ideas that allow for Randell’s inviting voice to guide us through introspection and melody which gets pretty forceful at the end.

“There Is A Ghost In The Mirror :: There Is Not A Ghost In The Mirror” then recruits Daniel Lin’s skilled cello for the rugged yet pretty climate, and “I Knew You Were Never Going To Burn The House Down That Day” enlists Jesse DeCaire’s precise bass and Alisha Autio’s soaring flute via the emotive delivery of dark humor.

In the middle, Chris Moore takes over on lead vocals for the fuzzy lo-fi of “Laps,” while “Only Salt :: Tie Yourself To Love” allows for Selina Potila and Jim Bellmore’s pipes to shine across the heartfelt and dreamy moment.

The final three tracks are excellent, too. “North Champion” invites Jon Bloom’s melody guitar to S.J. Randell’s wordless singing that’s colorful and lush. “Plastic Crow Drinking Water On A Windowsill” is initially a bare moment of guitar and Anne Baldrige’s voice before building into dense dynamics in a chamber sort of fashion. “Lapse :: Call Me Dandelion” exits, and allows for Brook Randell’s soothing clarinet to add much to the soft versus loud gestures.

Call it math-rock, progressive pop or lo-fi indie-rock, the Windmill Music collective pens songs that are immediately striking thanks to an experimental and artistic angle that ranges from vulnerable to tense.

Rating: A-

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