If you’ve never before listened to the Dirty Projectors, then please, do yourself a favor and give them a try. The visionary sounds of Dave Longstreth and friends will be entirely new and refreshing to your musical taste buds. Longstreth’s impressive recipes have already gained the attention of the likes of David Byrne and Björk. The band recorded with Byrne on Dark Was The Night, released back in February, and played a show with Björk in May. And now, this June, the band drops their freshest creation, Bitte Orca, onto the plates of hungry fans.

Bitte Orca kicks off with “Cannibal Resource.” Though the title may sound frightening, the song is a delicious stew of sunny surf chords and boogying beats that melt into cloudy organ and an electro glow. Upon the first listen, the selection of musical ingredients may seem to reflect the “terrifying” and “arbitrary” themes of the song; each consequential listen will reveal the genius of each syncopated “oh,” clapping beat, and strum of harp strings to create an irresistibly catchy and tasty tune.

The middle section of the album incorporates some new flavors into the mix. The rich and unique brand of R&B Longstreth blends into nearly all of the tracks, amplifies and adds spice. Tracks four and five, “Stillness Is the Move” and “Two Doves,” incorporate the smooth texture and absolute talent of gorgeous female vocals. While the former features fluttering guitar and Mariah Carey-esque ventures into the upper range, “Two Doves” is all strings and silky soul.

The unquestionably reigning track of the album is “Useful Chamber.” The track begins with ethereal electronics that break down into rhythmic bites and explorations of the album’s title (“Bitte orca / orca bitte”). A minute later the tune turns into a mass of choral “oh’s” that simmer and then boil into a collision of sounds as the lyric “I’m caught up in a storm” signals the flavorful combination of all the group has to offer.

After a couple more throwbacks to the rhythm and blues/beachy keen licks of earlier tracks, the album comes to a close with “Fluorescent Half-Dome.” The lyrics are reflective and exude a certain sense of finality: “When I’m ready for my whole world to open up and surrender, I’ll look for you.” Although disappointingly bland compared to other tracks, the calmer tones are lovely and palatable in their own right.

Overall, Bitte Orca is an exciting conglomeration of musical tastes and sounds. Longstreth brings together a talented group (Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, Brian Mcomber, Nat Baldwin, and Haley Dekle) in a wild melting pot of genres. You might really enjoy it, or you might not get it at all – either way, you’ve probably never tasted anything quite like it.

Track List

1. Cannibal Resource (3:55)
2. Temecula Sunrise (5:05)
3. The Bride (2:49)
4. Stillness Is the Move (5:14)
5. Two Doves (3:42)
6. Useful Chamber (6:28)
7. No Intention (4:17)
8. Remade Horizon (3:55)
9. Fluorescent Half-Dome (5:45)