An immersive mix of swirling psychedelia, breezy indie rock, and sweet synth-pop, Paper Pools’ debut EP It’s in Our Mind (out August 26) is a visionary travelog charting the life of the project’s founder Allen Orr. From Paper Pools’ inception in 2019, Orr knew It’s in Our Mind needed to express the highs and lows of his journey. “A key theme is the contrast between light and dark,” he says. Because of the music’s intimacy, Orr handled nearly everything himself. Doubling as producer, he sang and played every note, riff, and synth part, save for a few backing vocals care of Kim Kelly (Amazombies, Mal de Mer) and the mesmerizing grooves. Those were handled by Adam Christgau, who has worked with the likes of Troye Sivan, Sia, and Miley Cyrus. It’s in Our Mind is—on top of everything else it expresses about Orr’s unique life—an indelibly L.A. record. It’s suffused with both the gleam of sunshine and the glitter of nighttime lights; it feels natural and free, yet also electric and otherworldly. - Justin Farrar