SCATTERED SMOTHERED COVERED

Vinyl version. Early in the first track on Scattered Smothered Covered, the new album by Appetite, Teddy Briggs sings, "songs keep writing themselves" and the resulting collection of music seems to do exactly that. It is a testament to the sense of musical ease and fluency this 27-year-old Californian creates with this record. Originally conceived as a project to, as Briggs simply puts it, "try and make songs all by myself," Appetite has, on this new disc, flourished, conjuring songs buoyed by a spirit that vibrates with the influences of downtempo electronica, hip-hop, Tropicalia, and the far-reaching sonics of Can, early Mercury Rev, and certain shades of Beck. These are songs that reveal layers upon layers for the headphone listener or just provide a nice bed of gorgeous sound for you to rest upon.