Map Of What Is Effortless

Formed in New Orleans in 1999, Telefon Tel Aviv's first album, "Farenheit Fair Enough" (2001), was a laudable ambient techno effort. Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper then relocated to Chicago, and went to work creating something a little more original. Schooled in classical music, they convinced their alma mater (New Orleans' Loyola University) to let them use the Chamber Orchestra to record some string sections. Using vocalists like L'Altra's Lindsay Anderson, Telefon Tel Aviv are thawing electronica from its frozen rut by composing real songs rather than just knitting together strings of clicks and beeps. And they're quite good at it. The results are often soulful, with hints of Marvin Gaye and Massive Attack. Yet the ultra-detailed sonic inventiveness eclipses the latter, ensuring this album gets credit for making a microleap in the genre. From chill-out rooms, to headphones, to the bedroom, this album should see some heavy use this year.