Maximum Entropy

Editors’ Notes Bold colors and subtle shades blend in compelling ways on Man Without Country’s sophomore album, united by the Welsh duo’s fondness for both pop craftsmanship and synth-based atmospherics. Maximum Entropy shifts from the seething menace of “Claymation” to the ethereal longing of “Oil Spill” and the sprightly bounce of “Romanek” with a teasing detachment than can’t quite hide the emotional fires blazing within. White Sea’s expansive vocals on the darkly percolating “Laws of Motion” are a passionate high point. Grandly conceived and frequently mesmerizing, Maximum Entropy is a major advance for MWC.