Across three albums, Austin’s Pure X has perfected a languid take on dream-pop, and later this summer, singer and guitarist Jesse Jerome Jenkins extends that dream with the release of his debut solo album. Hard Sky picks up where Pure X left off: the tempos are relaxed, the atmosphere is foggy, and the mood is both wistful and a little bit dark. Jesse usually floats above the sound with his airy falsetto, but on the title track, he sings in a natural, earthy croon. His guitar playing is a crystalline take on David Gilmour’s smooth psychedelia, circling around a song that’s all about circling back to the ones you love the most.
“Hard Sky” appears on Hard Sky, out June 23.
–Art Levy // host, Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., producer, My KUTX