Experimental pop is a wide umbrella to be sure, but that’s the beauty of it. From jazzy improvisations to more structured jangly ballads, there’s so much to explore in this treasure trove of a category.
— Will Thomas

It’s hard to pick just one XTC song to fill this space, as their one of, if not my all time favorite pop bands, but the one that’s dug its claws in me and hasn’t let go for the lion’s share of a month is “When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty” from their 1979 experimental pop opus, “Drums and Wires.”

This song is weird–most of XTC’s songs are–but the charm and the glamour just oozes from this dancy ballad. It most certainly borders on rock or pop-rock, but it has enough of a jangly atmosphere and melodic drive that I feel comfortable placing it under the umbrella of experimental pop.

It’s full of spontaneous vocal ad libs, stratified guitar playing, and kooky sound effects, with Andy Partridge’s theatrical vocal delivery being the cherry on top of this eccentric cake.

For fans of: Elvis Costello and The Attractions; DEVO; Talking Heads; The B-52’s

Fievel is Glauque consists of two primary members, vocalist Ma Clément and pianist Zach Phillips. According to previous interviews, the pair met in Clément’s hometown of Brussels when Phillips collided with a metal pole in the street. Clément, a trained nurse, stopped to provide Phillips with first aid, thus marking the genesis of their musical relationship that produced a litany of top-notch experimental jazz-pop.

Much like the circumstances that drove their serendipitous meeting, Fievel is Glauque’s compositions are drenched in chaos and complexities that intertwine to create something truly special. Clément’s airy vocals marry beautifully with Phillips’ dizzying drumming. The band regularly employs vast orchestrations of saxophones, trumpets, violins, clarinets–whatever helps push the envelope of their sound.

Their debut album, “Flaming Swords,” is one of my most listened to records. The average song length falls between two and three minutes, but don’t mistake their bite-sized nature for a lack of packing a punch. Eighteen songs make up its 37 minute runtime, and each one stands on its own, but together they form one of the best experimental pop records of the 2020s. It’s smooth, glossy, dulcet–it’s truly an incredible debut effort by any standard.

Fievel is Glauque’s second studio record, “Rong Weicknes” from 2024, is a continuation of their melodic sound, but it sees the band explore more long-form songs than before (their debut album had one song over three minutes–”Rong Weicknes” has eight). There’s a bit more of an electronic factor to this one–it feels much more vast and bucolic than their debut, maybe due to the band’s larger budget after their relatively successful first album, but it still implements their trademark jazzy instrumentation that makes their music so captivating to me.

It’s been two years since we’ve had any new Fievel is Glauque music, a much maligned hiatus that I hope ends sooner than later.

For fans of: Broadcast; Stereolab; Yo La Tengo; Arthur Russell

In the Christian Bible, the phrase “Maher Shalal Hash Baz” translates from Ancient Hebrew to “quick to the plunder, hasty to the spoil.” According to theologians, it symbolizes the inevitable conquest of the kingdoms of Samaria and Damascus by the Assyrians.

While it’s difficult to surmise a connection between the band’s name and their music, I feel as if it captures their chaotic, harum-scarum sound perfectly. Every song of Maher Shalal Hash Baz is a wager. You truly don’t know where the path will take you, but its kooky charm will enthrall you wistfully along the journey.

Their music often feels sparsely rehearsed, as if its members Tori Kudo, Reiko Kudo and Hiroo Nakazaki are performing together with only a vague understanding as to what they want to produce as a whole. Melodies are staggered, interspersed with moments of sheer sonic anarchy. Fit with euphonium and guitar playing that’s frantic and otherworldly, the band produces an organized noise that I’ve yet to find an equal for.

Improvisations are key to their sound, but its rough edges and seemingly adrift melodies are what create the surrealistic allurement of Maher Shalal Has Baz.

For fans of: Ornette Coleman; Deerhoof; Sun Ra; Xiu Xiu