RIYL: Grizzly Bear, Amon Dunes, Cola, Deerhunter

The name Packaging may connote a cynical mindset about the music industry, but the music that duo Daniel Lyon (Spirit Award) and Daniel “Connor” Birch (Flaural) make is far from cynical. Instead, it’s a passionate merging of elements from their distinct voices: krautrock chug, psychedelic swirl, electronic grandeur, and tuneful accessibility, with a pinch of bristling self-awareness sprinkled on top.

Their debut album, Packaging, is a suite of emotionally resonant songs about disconnection, ennui, and restless movement. Featuring several musical contributors, including Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic), Ash Reiter (Sugar Candy Mountain), James Barone (Beach House), and Andy Rauworth (Gauntlet Hair). The album, like actual packaging, is a tactile experience. From the pulse-pounding rush of “Running Through The Airport” and “In My Pocket” to the woozy melancholia of “Didn’t Wanna Stay” and the quietly devastating “On Holiday,” Lyon and Birch combine their talents in ways that push each other to new emotive heights.