Phil Beaudreau operates on a level of seriously superior pop sensibilities. His debut, Ether, is a staggeringly groovy album. With mostly electronic production, the textures create a smooth, dreamlike ambience. The tasteful variation of influences that Beaudreau pulls from earns the album a comparison to Gorillaz, where Damon Albarn’s rejection of consistency became a trademark. RnB, funk, soul, hip hop, and pop all find its place onto the album, resulting in a truly successful amalgamation of genres. His collaboration with Dawaun Parker is especially satisfying; it contains a sick horn sample, and Beaudreau’s breakdown in the middle of the song feels like it’s suspended in zero gravity. Stream the track below, or head over to the soundcloud to stream the album. – Jake Saunders