On his 2016 debut album Basement Behavior, Seance Crasher’s Kevin Rafn dialed in the sound he’d been exploring over the previous few years. With the help of producer Riley Geare (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), Rafn fortified the lo-fi bedroom aesthetic of his early EPs and steadied his tentative (but undeniably tuneful) synth-pop with tighter arrangements and some reliable blues and rock moves. The result was a strong, confident record—like watching an awkward teenager grow into a self-assured young adult.
With that framework set, Rafn sounds ready to start exploring again on Seance Crasher’s sophomore album, Gentle Cycle. Out of the picture (or at least the album credits) is Geare, with Rafn taking his place in the producer’s chair. Throwback vibes still fill the air, but across these eight tracks, Seance Crasher turns toward a particularly psychedelic brand of synth-fueled funk.