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One of the great wonders of pop music is the way studio artifice can be deployed to convey genuine passion. On this winning sophomore album, Alison Sudol, a.k.a. A Fine Frenzy, constructs dazzling walls of sound from intricately layered voices, keyboards, and percussion. In the tradition of the great Kate Bush, she portrays volcanic desire and bitter desolation alike with a graceful intensity. “Stood Up,” a clattering call to rebellion, and the melancholy “Happier” feel like spontaneous outbursts, for all the meticulous craftsmanship.
