CD of The Week

Dirty Projectors mastermind David Longstreth has described Swing Lo Magellan as "an album of songs, an album of songwriting." It's somewhat telling that after six albums, his fans have to be told to expect that. Indeed, over the his last three releases, Longstreth has dragged himself kicking and screaming into the realm of accessibility, in part through the increased presence and contributions of his ever-evolving band line-up, namely vocalists Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman. Even with the former singer on sabbatical from the group, Magellan finds Longstreth and friends making their most tender and inviting record yet. Though it lacks the quantum leap "wow" factor of 2009's Bitte Orca, it feels just as intimate, just as alive, and even more sincere.

Nothing quite rivals Orca's signature single "Stillness is the Move," but Longstreth still gives plenty of space to the components that made that song work: his music's own recent R&B leanings and Amber Coffman's angelic voice. Both come together again gloriously on "The Socialites," a sultry ballad that's practically begging for a Solange Knowles makeover. "Gun Has No Trigger" isn't far behind, with a languid soul groove that would make Gnarls Barkley blush and one of Longstreth's most nuanced and impassioned deliveries yet. Other highlights include a combination and contrast of vocal talents. The shuffling, tragicomic "Just From Chevron" features serpentine vocal interplay between Longstreth, Coffman and newcomer Haley Dekle, while "Unto Caesar" hilariously breaks the fourth wall, having Coffman go off script mid-song to rib Longstreth for his nonsensical lyric.

That playfulness stretches to the music on record as well as lyric, and never feels forced or calculated. It all serves to color this record in subtle but potent ways, making it the strongest, most memorable collection of Dirty Projectors songs yet and hinting at even more ways for them to keep growing and playing together. Is stillness is indeed the move, they've become downright statuesque.

See Dirty Projectors live in Philadelphia as part of Jay-Z's Made In America Festival on The Parkway over Labor Day weekend.