Ex Cops/Wild Orphans/Cheap Clone

Before joining their label last year, New York’s Ex Cops were a DIY duo with home-recordings as clear and cut as indie-pop comes. When they started recording their debut album, True Hallucinations, the band added three more members to the mix, while sticking to their catchy, charming roots. Original members Brian Harding and Amalie Bruun spend the album harmonizing their shared vocals during hooks and choruses, letting the verses blend with the psychedelic melodies. The album intro “S&HSXX,” electro-instrumental calamity personified, awakens listeners, but does little to prepare for the sugary dream-pop to follow, like “James” and “Ken,” or the brooding slow and low “Separator.” The end product is a half hour of innocence in music form and hope that they won’t stray on future releases. (Nikki Hunt)