Angelo (Pink + Blue Marble Vinyl)

Brijean make music to escape to. On their new EP Angelo, the duo of percussionist and singer Brijean Murphy and multi-instrumentalist and producer Doug Stuart use their dreamy, danceable sound to process the grief of losing both of Murphy’s parents and Stuart’s parents in the past two years.

The EP opens with the title track, a hypnotic house track that finds Murphy chanting “Angelo, Angelo, can you transport me?” over a driving beat. The track sets the tone for the rest of the EP, which is a journey through the different ways that Brijean and Stuart have used music to cope with loss.

“Take A Trip” is a disco-inspired track that captures the feeling of returning to nightlife after a long period of isolation. The hazy “Shy Guy” is a playful flirtation with the dude sheepishly hanging out at the edge of the dancefloor. And “Colors” is a kaleidoscopic track that celebrates the beauty of life in the face of death.

Angelo is a beautifully made EP that is both personal and universal. It’s a testament to the power of music to transport us to different places and to help us process difficult emotions. If you’re looking for an album to take you on a journey, then Angelo is the perfect choice.