While listening to James K’s incredible new album, I kept thinking how much it felt like the kind of thing that would fit in the universe of Serial Experiments Lain (a Web 1.0-era anime masterpiece). By the time I reached “Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream” towards the record’s end, I realized that was by design, as she began incorporating lyrics from Lain’s opening theme, “Duvet” by Bôa. A New York native, James K is one of today’s more exciting young genre-shunning musicians. Her third full-length LP Friend comes out on September 5 courtesy of AD 93. (The label says it’s “one of the best records we have ever put out.”) If I had to describe her dreamy, ethereal sound, I’d say it’s as if Enya or Julee Cruise had taken a stab at drum & bass or trip-hop. On December 3 and 4, London’s Institute of Contemporary Art is hosting James K for a pair of must-see shows. Fans of Caroline Polachek, ML Buch, or Oklou will not be disappointed. —Spike Carter