Hibou - Something Familiar |-

Peter Michel recorded Hibou's 2015 self-titled debut in a walk-in closet. These humble beginnings led to great things: His shoegaze-frosted dream-pop drew raves from Consequence of Sound, Stereogum, and Seattle Weekly, and led to opening slots for Metric, EL VY, Phantogram, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The Seattle-based musician has come a long way since that time – in fact, his second album as Hibou, Something Familiar, reflects several years marked by profound change. Something Familiar addresses Michel's ongoing battle with anxiety and depersonalization – the latter a disorder distinguished by feeling disengaged from the mind and body, as if someone is an outsider looking in at their own self. As a result, Something Familiar has a decidedly darker tone. Although the core elements of Hibou remain intact – reverb-soaked guitars, plush keyboards, and Michel's dreamy croon – the record exudes melancholy. The churning "Malison" boasts a tougher, space rock-influenced underbelly, while the shimmering, synth-drive