Since its inception, the term IDM has proved a nebulous term to actually pin down. When does an artist’s music cross the threshold of standard electronica and become heady enough for the IDM distinction? TMBOY are not an IDM group, but their wonderful melding of genres on their new singles “Focus” attempts to deconstruct the term without sacrificing the rousing pop passions that made their 2015 self-titled release so captivating. The vocals from Sarah Aument are airy but don’t get lost in the varied and shuffling production of Will Shore. The drum patterns are reminiscent of UK house music’s constant propulsion and progression from one idea to the next. Ghostly synths appear and dissipate as tropical drums bubble up and fade. Its grooves and hook are so infectious, but the underlying synthetic elements collapse in meditative and transfixing ways. It’s a testament to the group’s adventurous nature that they constructed a gem of a pop song with the DNA of an IDM deep cut. TMBOY will be performing at Elsewhere on July 25 and you can stream their new single below. – Tucker Pennington
