Like a canvas woven in the shadows, Exo’s debut album shimmers in the corners of our perception and emerges into the light, fully formed. With their delicate and singular melodies, at once ethereal and raw, sensitive and tender, yet deeply punk and primitive, this collection of songs fits into the space created by 2010s New York DIY punk, but flourishes in its own habitat like a freshly discovered butterfly. It is a concept album in the truest sense of the term; an ode to the fragility of insects and the specter of death, a meditation on impermanence and the brevity of our existence. Carried by Nyle’s raw and unique drumming, syncopated throughout these tracks like a damaged heartbeat, the songs unfold in waves of warm analog synthesizer, Anna’s sharp and driving guitar lines, and Anahit’s heavy bass, taut as a rubber band. But what truly sets this band apart is its unique trio of voices, each shining in its own palette, between classic punk singing, apathetic siren songs, and intricate harmonies. It feels like moving through a groove of voices in its ascent toward the light, beating the air heavily with its fragile wings. The collaborative dynamic — of different personalities and perspectives — permeates every moment of this record. On side B, you can hear the demo’s secret track, “Mermaid Legend,” a sprawling full-side composition of raw music that experiments with time and space, like the auditory equivalent of a fly’s kaleidoscopic, chirping vision. There is no other album like it. Fans of Pale Cocoon and The Nixe will feel the resonance of the playful and sublime melody that runs through the album, as will fans of Electric Deads and Chin Chin. This album evokes the recent golden age of New York punk and carries the DIY ethic into new territory, preserving the spirit of experimentation and offering a catchy edge that has become too rare in punk today. - Straw Man -.