Arcadia
A concept album of laptop-recorded love songs that double as nature allegories, this project from Chairlift frontwoman (and recent Beyoncé collaborator) Caroline Polachek is both ambitiously high-concept and charmingly DIY. Highlights such as "Backwards and Upwards" and "Getaway Ride" show off Polachek's smart knack for undercutting any potential pretentiousness with airy, whimsical melodies and playful beat programming. At times the album veers slightly into meticulous synth work that was probably more involving to make than it is to hear – but tracks like the delightful sci-fi trip "Lady's Got Gills" ensure that Arcadia is a winningly quirky listen.