Too often techno/rave/trance songs have a forced energy that annoys me: I hate tracks that include sounds of the crowd cheering, and *please* don't shout at me over and over again to "put your hands in the air" or whatever: just shut up, give me a good beat and bassline, and *I* will decide what body parts, if any, I want to elevate.

IDM, on the other hand, can get too glitchy/fractured and never get around to actually making all those little noises hang together.

Fortunately Alex Smoke's Paradolia doesn't try to harangue me into having a good time, or get lost in trying to be the new Autechre. Some songs definitely have an IDM flavor, but the miscellaneous noises don't overwhelm things. In general the songs tend towards a more minimalist sound, but a few offer a nice of change of pace with their lushness (Prima Materia being the best example.)

His vocals are also refreshingly low key without sounding monotonous or near-comatose. At first I thought I was listening to Matthew Dear (e.g. Never Want to See You Again): their voices are very similar. Alex's voice is a touch lighter but still surprisingly pleasing to listen too. In many cases vocals can ruin an otherwise good song, but on Paradolia they always add to the song. His more processed vocals can also be reminiscent of Crystal Castles, as in the song Anima.

Many of the songs have a tinge of sadness about them that manages to make them feel richer and more sophisticated without crossing the line into moroseness. Others, such as Snider are more upbeat, but also a touch clinical. They're pleasant, but my favorites are still songs like 'Make My Day' that would be rather ordinary if it weren't for that hint of gloominess.

In general Paradolia is a very "safe", album, and no one song really stood out for me. The lack of any surprises or peak moment limits my appreciation for it overall, but despite that it's still a really good album that shows you don't have to shout how happy/sexy/fantastic you are, or try to amaze with your fabulous programming skills to give your listener a good time.