ROC’s debut album is a swirling journey through the deepest depths of post-Tricky trip-hop, as well as much more atmospheric material (with no less depressing subject matter). Though vocalist Karen Sheridan sweeps in on the opener “Desert Wind” with a narcoleptic haze of slide guitar and heavenly organ chords, tracks like “Excise” and a twisted cover of “Plastic Jesus” (from Cool Hand Luke) chart the dark side of trip-hop. – John Bush