Bachelorette

My Electric Family (Drag City)

By Anna Giuliani
Published: August 1st, 2009 | 1:40pm

Annabel Alpers and her “electric family” of keyboards and computers generate fantastical psych-pop delicately fused with soothing, ethereal vocals. As Bachelorette, Alpers coaxes dreamy melodies from her willing accomplices and, though the layers are manufactured, songs like “Instructions For Insomniacs” and “Where To Begin” sound warm and close — and the repetition of vocals both real and machine-driven on “Technology Boy” are emotional rather than cold.

Whether combining playful disco beats and prog rock keyboards on “Mindwarp” or orchestral, manipulated vocals on “Long Time Gone,” My Electric Family never sounds like anything else except itself: creative pop that’s arty and infinitely listenable.

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