The Connecticut rapper reunites with the Swedish underground producers of Victory Music, combining atmospheric sadboy synths with plainspoken East Coast grit.

Sage Elsesser’s latest is fashioned as a prequel to his last two LPs, detailing the darkness before a spiritual awakening. Over lush, radiant production, it’s his most surefooted rapping yet.

The Paris producer revives the sound of classic, mid-2000s dubstep on their debut album, but subtle, surprisingly moving details keep their music from feeling merely retro.

The duo’s seventh album is a paean to romance, filled with ethereal indie-rock songs where love and daydreaming are an escape from the daily grind.