Ears Wide Open: Vinyl Williams

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Math-heads know “Lemniscate” as a geometrical term that refers to figure-8 shaped curves, such as this one: ∞. It’s also the title of the debut album from Vinyl Williams, the nom de tune of musician and visual artist Lionel Williams – a work that might take an infinitesimal amount of patience to sort. “Leminscate” is a gallimaufry of psych-pop, lo-fi punk and electro-wankery that might give you the notion that reverb is a threat to national security, or at least mental health. But the album is propulsive and even pretty in places – “Higher Worlds” rocks, “Inner Space” and “Who Are You” incite all kinds of kaleidoscopic hallucinations and “Stellarscope” phases you into submission. No surprise that Williams, 22, has exhibited his surreal art in galleries in the U.S., Europe and Korea. Here, his musical experiments provide similar visions. 3D specs on.

||| Stream: “Harmonious Change”

||| Live: Vinyl Williams celebrates his album release tonight at the Bootleg Bar.