The Octopus Project/ITEM/Half an Animal

For the past decade or so, Austin’s Octopus Project has combined the astral guitar landscapes of bands like Spacemen 3 with the cosmic lounge-pop swoon of Stereolab and the electro-vibe of Four Tet. Keyboardist Yvonne Lambert regularly steals the show with her theremin. Recorded at Filmon Baby, Good Danny's and Tarbox Road Studios, the band's latest effort, Memory Mirror, features more of the same — quirky electronic pop that suggests a high degree of craftsmanship. (Jeff Niesel)