DSU

It's careful yet effortless, passionate yet distant but above-all, wholly unique. Garageband has never sounded so good.

DSU is a vital indie record that’s indebted as much to Alex G’s own inventiveness as it is to the 90s slacker aesthetic it feeds off. Alex G’s music glows, it extends a hand, lends capacity to being in ‘the moment’.

Taking a couple of tracks to ease into itself, the Philadelphian’s sound gradually teeters out of its comfort zone, with some Stephen Malkmus-inspired lyrical riddles along the way.

It isn’t just a homemade gem: it’s an instant classic, the kind of window into a fascinating mind that you wish every solo album could be.

Tales are skilfully revealed in half-glimpses, while musically, the album covers considerable ground – from Promise’s goofy slap bass to the breezy melodies of Harvey and Boy. A raw and refreshing talent.

It skilfully combines Neil Young’s dusty American songcraft with scratchy lo-fi and wandering electronic influences.

DSU is worthy of its moment, a 13-song set of warped, idiosyncratic sketches each capable of wending its way to a distinct place into the hearts of anyone who ever warmed to the idea of "indie rock".

At its best, DSU cycles through that duality with aplomb, which will serve as an excellent introduction to his gigantic discography for all new fans. Yet it’s also a reminder that Giannascoli is getting older, both as an artist and as a human being. And for better or worse, things don’t necessarily feel the same.

With any luck, this accomplished full-length debut will be his ticket to a wider audience.

Most interestingly, Alex G’s approach is a nuanced and more intricate update on that of the genre’s forefathers, something that marks him out as a beguiling proposition.

This is enduring evidence that the purest, most interesting music inevitably comes without hefty production or marketing budgets.

Altogether, the album serves as a solid introduction to a D.I.Y. musician full of promise, who turns a myriad of inspirations into something distinctive and memorable.