Juana Molina

Argentinean singer, guitarist, and former comedienne Juana Molina is perpetually refining her craft. The latest pearl in an already impressive discography, Un Dia finds new ways to seamlessly integrate gentle loops and layers. Sensitive and exact, the interlacing doesn't draw undue attention to itself; instead, vocal echoes form subtly crisscrossing melodies, and electronic noodles curl subliminally around each verse. There are razor slices of what might have been saxophone or organ parts, but, given the nature of the complex sound fields, probably aren't. A song's mood will glide from soothing to inflamed, as Molina's nonchalantly tranquil tones make dreamily phonetic repeats, sometimes hinting at an odd descendant of bossa nova. Light handclaps, acoustic-guitar slivers, and upended electro wibbles decorate these songs, but Molina's relaxed vocal sigh is always central. -Martin Longley