Xiu Xiu (solo) + Mal Devisa

You don’t have to listen to much more than a minute of a Xiu Xiu song to understand that Jamie Stewart is upset. Indeed, nearly everything in the Durham, NC, singer’s catalog represents a shot across the bow of calmness: his vocal histrionics, the ping-ponging of intense imagery and emo straightforwardness and the wailing electronics that cut through otherwise pleasant melodies. He plays solo here alongside multi-instrumentalist Deja Carr, better known as Mal Devisa, who works surprisingly textured tunes from a pared down format: her soulful voice soaring over loops of understated bass guitar.