Jon DeRosa - Black Halo (2015)

Known for his dreamlike ambient-pop work as Aarktica, DeRosa integrates those signature otherworldly elements into the songs on his second full length, Black Halo, combining a certain kind of occult mysticism with a refined orchestral sound, largely informed by his move from Brooklyn to LA and his love of '60s pop songwriting and orchestration. His striking baritone is more in tune with the Golden Age of crooners, 1950s Nelson Riddle arrangements and 1960s teen love songs. His ability to successfully blend such disparate elements is what makes his music so strikingly original and DeRosa such a singular character. But then again, this is the kind of thing that can happen when your past includes studying under minimalist pioneer La Monte Young, making records with Alan Sparhawk of Low, collaborating with Stephen Merritt, and touring Europe with Lydia Lunch.