Remember that scene in the first Wayne's World movie, when Wayne and Garth are able to travel the world with a little help from the magic of green screen? "Imagine being able to be magically whisked away to... Delaware... I'm in Delaware." Well it's that same locale that hypnogogic Brooklyn indie poppers Small Black traveled to get started on their debut LP, New Chain. It's actually less of a headscratcher than you think. Recorded in suburban seclusion in the First State, Small Black selected the location in hopes to try and tap back into the kind of motifs that their self-titled debut EP established-- nostalgia and dream-drunk melancholy chiefly among them. Unlike that ultra-personal, demo-quality introduction, New Chain marks the unveiling of a cleaner, more direct sound, thanks to the now-cemented four-piece lineup and improved production.

This isn't to say that that the band has shed the woozy, new wave vibe that got them lumped in with chillwave in the first place. doesn't make much of an attempt to skirt those signifiers, focusing more on electronics and rhythm. Most of the songs-- several of which could be classified as straight-up ballads-- are very simply constructed, relying on details to elicit feeling through a myriad of synth textures and vocal layers. There's a pretty simple equation that can be applied: The more compelling the details are, the more compelling the song is. The syrupy funk lurch of "Goons", those lava lamp bell tones on "Photojournalist", the bouncy drum programming on "Crisp 100s"-- all are elements that elevate these very patient pop songs and make them memorable.