Tyler Keene (And And And, Log Across the Washer), Boone Howard (The We Shared Milk and the Boone Howard band), and Nathan Baumgartner (And And And) return with their second album as Casual Technicians, and just like their debut earlier this year, it’s another dazzling display of creativity.

The record, titled Deeply Unworthy, somehow manages to be both an exploration of emotional intelligence deficits and a riotous parody of “tough guy” culture. In fact, the album’s press release might be one of the funniest of the year, including lines like “A lot of inspiration was taken from truck decals and imagining the internal lives of men compelled to cover their vehicle windows with aggressive, confrontational and isolating slogans.” Blending humor and heart, Casual Technicians continue their genre-hopping pastiche work, proving they’re the technical masters of dissecting masculinity’s most fragile facades.

Sonically, Deeply Unworthy is as diverse and lo-fi as you’d expect – it’s like stumbling upon a slightly warped lost tape in your attic, only to discover it’s full of gems (listen to Dark Matter Falling!) that provide a wonderfully visceral listening experience. Tape out now through Repeating Cloud.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp