If you're like us, you might be slightly taken aback by Brooklyn alt-pop songwriter Lara May Meyerratkin, AKA El May, and her delightfully cryptic self-titled debut album (January 19). The loose lo-fi atmosphere, left-of-center song structures and her occasionally unvarnished, understated vocals are deceptive on the surface as the tracks, in the course of just a minute here or there, reveal themselves as deeper, distinctive and completely original approaches to modern indie pop. Meyerratkin, who began her musical career as lovable, idiosyncratic popster Ben Lee's on-stage instrumentalist, brings much of Lee's shaggy charm to her own sharp, engaging songs.

El May's debut is, not surprisingly, pretty much a D.I.Y. affair, recorded in Nashville, New York and L.A. this past year with Meyerratkin producing and handling nearly all of the instruments and vocals. Listening to tracks like the bright and buoyant "Don't You" (featuring vocals from Nada Surf's Matthew Caws), gorgeously Bangle-ish "Draining A Lake" and layered retro-pop tapestry of "Want For Wonder" evoke thoughts of El May as the long lost niece of Brian Wilson. The offbeat melodies and kitchen-sink production are entangled with striking harmonies and a sound that isn't so much sunny as mellow-in-the-shade. Don't rush...spend some time with El May. You'll thank us.

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El May - "Don't You" (from the album El May)

El May - "Order In the Nothingness" (from the album El May)

Photo: Louisa Bailey