Teeel - Hydrostatic (2014)

Hydrostatic is the third, and most polished album by New Jersey electronic mastermind, Teeel. With nods to giants like New Order and Daft Punk and modern critic darlings Washed Out and Toro Y Moi, Hydrostatic has all the makings of a synth-pop breakthrough. "Temple Of The Sun" kicks the album off with a perfect piece of songcraft. Intricate synth and guitar work dance around a bouncing bass line, laying the foundation for the first of an album full of vocal hooks. "Disc Go" is a clear standout with equal parts Chromeo style playfulness, Tom Tom Club rubbery bass, and a repetitive synth line that harkens to filter-based Frech house music. With standouts like "You're Mine" and "Runners" anchoring the album, Teeel switches up styles from track to track delivering dancefloor ready grooves, dark washes of synthesized brooding, and pop hook after pop hook.