Body Cheetah's songs always begin with a beautiful melody. Then they stumble into dissonance, creating something far more innovative and strange. It's like watching someone walk down the street, trip over their own feet and then walk forward with even more gusto than before. James Kristofik, the man behind Body Cheetah and member of Connecticut-based art collective and record label Woozy Tribe, lets unwieldy trip-rock experimentation and sonic textures guide his songs.

With Body Cheetah's latest album, Raking In The Wind, Kristofik conjures alternate realities and precious psychedelic soundscapes with a casual brilliance. That's especially evident on "Than You Should Know" -- a song comprised of tiny sounds, otherworldly guitar, and intricate key changes that puts you in a circling head space. 

The music video for "Than You Should Know" shows Kristofik hanging from a tree shirtless, playing guitar and flirting with his sunglasses. It's animalistic, and maybe a little uncomfortable, and the same could certainly be said about the music: Body Cheetah walks the line between avant-garde hip hop and psychedelic rock with the coolness and agility of a predatory cat. He's aware of his affect thanks to lyrics which feel like the ramblings of a prideful, collected feline: "If I said I needed space then give me everything / I deserve it, I know," he sings amid a light beat and electronics. It's an interesting walk into minimalistic trip-hop.

Body Cheetah's album, Raking The Wind, is out now via its Bandcamp page. Or stream the record below.