Not Earth

Following the personal Shu Ra by two years, Not Earths mix of home-crafted songs and instrumentals finds Sing Leaf looking outward to imagined alien worlds. Like on prior Sing Leaf recordings, Toronto-based musician David Como incorporated a handful of performances by friends, but the album -- his third -- was recorded, mixed, edited, and otherwise performed by Como. Its track listing evokes the whimsicality and nature themes within with titles like Little Magic and Out of the Dream as well as Honeyeater and Sunshine. Honeyeater is one of two adventurous instrumentals included that combine pastoral textures like woodwinds, hand drums, and animal calls -- some delay-saturated, some perhaps synthesized -- with melodic synths, guitar, and electronic effects. Their warm presentation suggests peaceful, verdant landscapes buzzing with activity. The albums songs, while varied, are like-minded in tone. Highlight Forever Green reaches into 60s sunshine pop for a relaxed meditation on past love (the girl from Carolina I just cant get over). The trippier Magnetic draws on atmospheric psychedelia and lo-fi synth pop, and meandering closer Out of the Dream merges elements of all of the above for a still lighthearted romp through spacy, sweet, creature-filled environments. Alongside lite programmed drums, its synth voices range from woody flute-like textures to spongy 80s tones and pitched vocal samples. Though Forever Green may be the only playlist earworm here, akin to Panda Bears water-themed Buoys, Not Earth is not only well-suited for calming, curious background ambiance, it also benefits from attentive headphone listening. ~ Marcy Donelson