Nausea

Synthy California pop act Craft Spells — a.k.a. Justin Vallesteros — impressed us with 2011's Idle Labor, but we haven't heard much from him since 2012's Gallery EP. That has now changed with the announcement of Nausea, due out on June 10 through Captured Tracks. The album was recorded with producer Dylan Wall and features bandmates Javier Suarez and Andy Lum. It apparently reflects a big change since we last heard from Vallesteros; a press release explains that he moved to San Francisco, but after battling writer's block, he headed back to his family's house in Lathrop, CA. There, he trained in piano and wrote all of the album on the instrument. The results showcase what a press release calls a "bold, beautiful and lush new sound" with organic piano, strings and acoustic guitars. Sonic touchstones include Emitt Rhodes and the solo works of Yellow Magic Orchestra members Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi.