Cryptacize

Conceptual twee chamber-pop from a former record store employee, a former member of Deerhoof and a music teacher not your bag? Mine either, but Dig That Treasure is pretty all right. I like how most of the 11 songs all spill over into one another, as if the 30-minute album is one long musical. Yes, it's show-tuney, but with minimal instrumentation and an emphasis on reverbed/distorted guitar. Primary singer Nedelle Torrisi has a pleasant, crystalline voice that's well-suited for these dramatic cabaret tunes, which is to say she actually knows how to sing in that old-school carry-a-tune kind of way. Male singer Chris Cohen does OK, too, but it's Torrisi's show, and she makes the most of it with her wistful, almost adolescent voice. I'm not sure what anyone is singing about here, but I'm kind of sure it doesn't matter that much. The tunes are nice, the guitar playing is sharp and listening to the album is a decent enough way to while away half an hour.