About the torturous parts of everyday life we hate, but don’t notice, Finding it Hard to Explain Something So Obvious is the new EP from Agora Sci-Fi.

By Graeme Smith

As the album begins, the dreamy, melancholic post rock opening of portals gives way to soft and emotional vocals. There’s a wistfulness about it, and a touch of nostalgia. Agora Sci-Fi channels the midwestern indie rock sound of the ’90s and ’00s, especially Rilo Kiley, while giving it her own twist.

Sloppy ups the experimentation through a textured intro before developing into a soft ode to the world outside of the Internet and getting into mischief. Tabs introduces a psychedelic groove and has lyrics rich in storytelling. For Jandek brings some fuzzy rock edge and some bitterness with its tale. To be free closes the album in low-key style with a gentle, meditative finish.

Agora Sci-Fi is led by New York City-based singer-songwriter, artist, and animator Nathania Rubin who centres the project around a fictional character called “Z.” Recently released from prison of unspecified crimes against society, she finds herself poisoned by her wealthy family, losing her memory.

Rubin has such a fresh sound and makes some timely points about a society gripped by the whims of capitalism. Finding it Hard to Explain Something So Obvious feels like an incredibly important record that has a larger stature than its five-track runtime suggests.

The EP is out now and you can give it a listen below.