Abstractions [Audio CD] Europa 51

Europa 51's Abstractions sounds more or less what one would expect from a side project featuring members of the High Llamas, Stereolab, and Imitation Electric Piano (a side project, itself): It's playful, breezy, and smart, but also a little slight here and there. As with the three groups' main work, there's a willingness to experiment and play with sound, nods to kitsch, and some truly beautiful moments sandwiched in between the overtly clever ones. What may come as something of a surprise is the palette of sounds with which Europa 51 chooses to work. Instead of slathering on the analog synths, the group goes for a largely acoustic mix of bluegrass, folk, pop, and jazz that, from time to time, they augment with bits of Krautrock and electronica. It's a sound that's somewhat akin to Japancakes' expansive rustic symphonies, although much shorter and more structured. Indeed, songs like "Folkmaster Flex" and the pickin' and grinnin' bluegrass/Krautrock fusion of "Radio Rodeo" fairly radiate warmth, making this one of the most organic-sounding albums on which that this crew has played in some time. "Free Range Corona" starts out in a similar vein with