Outside

CFCF is the musical alias of Mike Silver, whose one-man electronic project takes on an impressive new feel with Outside. Exercises and Music for Objects—the pair of EPs that preceded this album—trafficked in a kind of hypnotic minimalism. While a few tracks on Outside feature an entrancing latticework of deceptively simple keyboard ostinatos, the focus here is on an off-kilter but ultimately accessible type of vocal-based pop, far from Silver's earlier electronic experiments. While Silver still creates all the music himself, tracks like "Feeling, Holding" feature guitars and what at least sounds like a real drum kit as prominently as synths, creating a warm, organic atmosphere around the multitalented musician's breathy, low-key vocals. Even ambient-flavored instrumental tracks like "Find" and "Transcend" are adorned with airy, natural tones that feel more like an early-morning rainforest than an evening urban skyline. Outside represents a major step forward for CFCF, creating even more options for whatever Silver's next move winds up being.