WL - ADHD (2020)

With ADHD, WL place themselves among a select few musicians making experimental pop who put their humanity front and center. Shaped by vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Misty Mary's experiences with grief and anxiety, the trio's quietly stunning third album provides a balm for troubled times, whether they're personal or political. WL's earlier work offers glimpses of what they attain here: in particular, their previous album Light Years (which they recorded in 2013 but released in 2016 after collaborating with filmmakers to get the perfect visuals for each track) points the way toward ADHD's free-form sounds as well as the band's unhurried creative process. The years WL spent making this album are reflected in its refined, patiently unfolding songs. "Morning" is as softly majestic as its name, fusing psych and dream pop together with dawning synths and Mary's caressing harmonies. The title track is just as serene, with pealing tones that invite listeners into Mary's gentle meditations on change (the moods WL create on these songs are so immersive, it's no wonder that Mary is a virtual reality developer). There's also a warmth and empathy to their music that many of their influences and contemporaries don't always have. On "Water's on My Side," they set a vocal melody so delicate it's almost subliminal to a network of bubbling electronics with equally soothing and moving results. Borrowing the contemplative feel of ambient music and a melody that could be from a long-forgotten folk song, "Mountain Home" holds on to its intimacy even as its synths build to towering heights. While the band's musical palette is more restrained on ADHD than before, the subtle shifts within it are fascinating. The focus on electronics makes WL's music seem more dreamlike than ever, particularly on "Ganzfeld Light," where Mary's musings are encased in a shimmering web that's finally overpowered by her radiant harmonies. By contrast, the guitar-driven "Violet Shadow" is just as striking, with Michael Yun and Adam Breeden's brooding distortion making for one of the most abstract and powerfully emotional songs. Amidst all of the album's growth and change, WL manage to sound humble and confident at the same time. Inward-looking but never insular, ADHD is proof they're doing something special.