Alberto Ibargüen

Dave Longstreth’s constant search for new sounds often results in a quickly rotating lineup of Dirty Projector members. This makes it a fairly stable lineup he’s maintained for the last three releases — a departure from the norm. While experimentation and constant evolution are always expected from him, and while key members like Angel Deadoorian departed from the group before the creation of this new LP, “Swing Lo Magellan;” there is a noticeable shift in the band’s dynamics from a Longstreth-dominated ensemble to that of a more cohesive, collaborative unit. Amber Coffman, Olga Bell and Haley Dekle take on as much of an important role as his guitar work, often becoming the main attraction of their new sound on this new record. They bring life, in conjunction with Longstreth’s intricate chord progressions, to 12 new songs that present a much more focused, and accessible side of the band, leading to one of their best releases to date.