Scenic: Acquatica

Scenic's instrumental desert soundtracks are exceptionally compelling: Windswept and spare, they evoke images of sand and approaching storms. The new, 70-minutes-plus Acquatica is no exception, as it subtly shifts from soothing, surf 'n' sand dreaminess to haunting nightmarishness with subtle ease. As always, frontman Bruce Licher—also known as Independent Project Records' anti-mogul and a founding member of Savage Republic—keeps Acquatica as real-sounding as possible, avoiding yet again the ever-present threat of New Age smarminess or Muzak cheesiness. Instead, he pulls off another hypnotic, engrossing album that seems to go by in half its considerable running time.