Mister Mellow

Experimental hip-hop label Stones Throw might seem an unlikely home for Washed Out, the chillwave pioneer most famous for composing the <i>Portlandia</i> theme song. But it's a match made in heaven. Seemingly inspired by the L.A. imprint's spiritual godfather, J Dilla, Ernest Greene's retro-electronic production benefits from the addition of more vocal samples and acoustic instruments. The loungey vibes on "Floating By", in particular, pair nicely with his typically gauzy, distended vocals, and the album's visual accompaniment complements each track with trippy chopped-up footage. It's unmistakably still Washed Out, but the wider range of beats—from disco to dub—help elevate his sound to new places.