Alright, buckle up buttercups, because Tune-Yards have dropped another sonic grenade on our unsuspecting earholes.

“Better Dreaming,” out now on 4AD, isn’t just an album; it’s a full-body workout for your cerebellum and a masterclass in how to make serious topics sound like a vibrant, slightly unhinged carnival.

Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, those glorious purveyors of rhythmic weirdness, have once again proven they march to the beat of a wildly different, yet undeniably infectious, drum machine. If their previous records were an art exhibition in a mad scientist’s lab, “Better Dreaming” feels like a P-Funk party in said lab, with punch spiked with pure joy (and a dash of existential dread).

“Better Dreaming,” out now on 4AD.

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From the moment “Heartbreak” kicks in, you know you’re in for a ride. It’s got more clicks and pops than a rogue firecracker, but Merrill’s vocal harmonies build into colossal, uplifting chords that make you want to survive all the heartbreaks. Then there’s “How Big Is The Rainbow,” a disco-house fever dream that demands you immediately find the nearest Pride parade and sashay.

Don’t let the infectious grooves fool you though. While your hips are swaying, your brain is getting a subtle, yet potent, dose of reality. Apparently, “Better Dreaming” grapples with “distraction, depression, and heartbreak.” Who knew grappling could sound so… danceable? Merrill battling male authority and self-doubt sounds less like a Lynchian nightmare and more like a triumphant, polyrhythmic exorcism.

And let’s not forget the guest giggles from their three-year-old on “Limelight.” Because nothing says “serious artists exploring the human condition” like a delightful interjection from a tiny human. It’s these perfectly placed, slightly absurd moments that remind you this isn’t some self-important art-rock treatise; it’s Tune-Yards making unconventional, innovative music that’s shockingly easy on the ears (and often, laugh-out-loud funny).

So, if you’re looking for an album that will make you dance like nobody’s watching, sweat out some deeply lodged emotional gunk, and maybe even inspire you to actually strive for a better dream, then “Better Dreaming” is your jam. It’s a glorious, messy, joyous, and utterly essential listen.

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