Under the moniker Atlas Sound, Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox's solo debut finds the hyper-prolific artist moving away from the noise-rock leanings of his main band and experimenting with mellower electro and ambient pop. Starting off with a vintage cassette recording of a little boy telling a ghost story, the album slowly creeps and haunts, unraveling in laptop-sculpted layers of guitar feedback and drum loops. In between, it nominally offers intimate glimpses of Cox's personal life. (The album is dedicated to and largely influenced by his best friend, Lockett Pundt.) The hypnotic fuzz of "Recent Bedroom" is a direct nod to My Bloody Valentine, while "River Card" is a lush slice of dream pop and "Winter Vacation" thumps to a hidden techno beat. Cox followed his muse and ran with it, and what resulted is a collection of music that's as intriguing as its creator. —Jill Menze