Cate le Bon is one of the most consistently interesting and fearlessly independent artists going. Pompeii is her sixth, and possibly her best, album. (Though Mug Museum is a must hear…) Each instrument–wandering bass, subdued sax, idiosyncratic guitar, 80’s synth–crosses the others at oblique angles. Add vocals reminiscent of Nico (but with a much broader palette) and it’s a bit of a strange brew. But somehow everything comes together in a blend that can almost convince you it’s pop. My favorite album of the year so far.