While perhaps not immediately apparent, Meyvant hails from Iceland. Not that that matters much. It's just interesting. As for the music, Meyvant wanders deep into 70s disco soul, adding just a bit of roots sound to the disco orchestra. That tweak and the fragile nature of Meyvant's voice creates a unique feel.

Júníus Meyvant Floating Harmonies (REcord Records)

What's undeniable is that Meyvant knows how to write and arrange songs. This is his first full-length album, and there is no letdown. His brand of triumphal chilldown is infectious and engaging. Once these songs start burbling, there's no stopping.

Most folks who travel in disco circles these days adopt all the tropes. Meyvant uses the strings, some falsetto and a few familiar progressions, but he's constantly reworking expectations. None of these pieces falls together in an entirely expected manner, though his method does become more familiar as the album rolls along.

As summer albums go, this is about perfect. But it would work well just about any time of the year. If there's a party going on, this will fit right in. It doesn't matter what your guests like; Meyvant is enough of a polymath to appeal to a wide variety of ears. His genius is pulling everything together into his very own sound. This album did take a while to craft, but I'll give Meyvant all the time he needs for his next effort. . .as long as it arrives at some point. Quite an announcement.

Jon Worley