Jonathan Visger and Brian Konicek’s prior band, Michigan’s Mason Proper, offered up slightly quirky pop with a streak of wistfulness and naiveté that was endearing, but they never quite seemed to get off the ground. On Hollow & Akimbo's self-titled set, there's a freshness and exuberance that’s a bit closer to that of say, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. or Vampire Weekend. Visger’s vocals are pleasantly youthful and winsome, and the group's vigorous guitars and vibrant percussion (with everything from booming tympani and lightning-crisp snares to handclaps and shakers) are the perfect partners to their subtle blankets of synths and electronic flourishes. The track “Singularity” is an ideal mix, with warped synths, cankerous, belching bass, and keyboards hosting Visger’s mellifluous, infectious vocals. Visger and Konicek have found a clever balance in yin and yang with Hollow & Akimbo, and that kind of craftsmanship often launches a band to that next level.