Crpytacize Mythomania

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo
• Label: Asthmatic Kitty
• XLR8R Rating: 7.5/10

When it comes to off-kilter art-pop, there are few bands more loveable than Cryptacize. Mythomania is the group’s second album, and it continues their exploration of unusual pop sounds and instrumentation. While Chris Cohen occasionally still cribs guitar sounds from his time in Deerhoof, Cryptacize has impressively expanded their sonic palette to include piano, keyboards, electric bass, and even autoharp. Yet even as their music becomes more complex, it remains undeniably light and cheery, due in no small part to the vocals of Nedelle Torrisi, whose chiming tones wouldn’t have sounded out of place on ’70s AM radio. The breezy skronk of opener “Tail & Mane” is the album’s true star, but Mythomania is full of pleasant pop moments.