Technocrats, the debut EP from Brooklyn-via-Pittsburgh alt-rock project The Level, feels gently unraveled in the best way. Across eight tracks (actually seven, if you don’t count the brief soundscape opening), it tackles hyper-optimized modern malaise without getting lost in it, favoring cracked introspection and fuzzy, mid-tempo drift with atmospheric clarity.

When asked, frontman Ian Abels is happy to explain how the songs came about: “I was thinking a lot about the texture that memories bring to life and how so much of daily life feels void of real feeling. (…) Much of the modern age is defined by technology—the hyper-optimization of advertising, the claustrophobia of choice, etc. I found myself continually torn between accepting the world as it is and being overly nostalgic for a past that isn’t coming back. There was a lot of reflection and draw to memory and the permanence of the past—trying to both escape nostalgia while also being deeply moved by the emotion of those memories. At the same time, I had also been reading a lot of Carl Jung and Mark Fisher and so their ideas were floating around a lot for me at this time.”

The theme is solidly packaged, with a heart of wistful melodies and assertive vocals, recalling slacker rock’s softer edges while carving its own inward gaze. Lead single Fate Insurgency, an earworm with a killer hook and irresistible chorus, could easily become a big hit, but actually there are no fillers in these 25 minutes of captivating music. A little comfort in a collapsing world.

Technocrats—engineered, mixed, and mastered by Matt Poirier—is out digitally via Montague Records. Featuring Ian Abels (vocals, guitars), Samuel Nobles (bass, keys), and Shane Luckenbaugh (drums, percussion), backed by Max Kulicke (additional guitars).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp