Perfume Genius is the brainchild of Seattle’s Mike Hadreas, whose new Matador album Learning is a thoroughly engaging effort that tackles some heady emotional subject matter. Sonically the album thrives on a decidedly barebones aesthetic with mostly piano-based songs that work effectively in their intimate sketch-like state. Hadreas’ voice is fraught with fragility through much of Learning. “Mr. Peterson” tells the story of an inappropriate yet intimate relationship with a teacher who ultimately commits suicide, while other songs tackle everything from drug abuse to molestation. Clocking in at less than 29 minutes long, Learning manages to pack a punch despite its running time. Take, for example, the dreamy “No Problem,” With its repetitious drum beat and Hadreas’ ethereal vocals, the song somehow seems epic even though it’s barely cracks the two-minute mark. With simple yet effective musical backdrops, Hadreas wields a deft songwriting pen and he has a knack for imagery that lingers long after a song’s conclusion. Hadreas lends a warmth the material that saves it from coming off as self-indulgent even though it is intensely personal. While much of the subject matter on Learning isn’t pretty, you can still hear hope in Hadreas’ voice on the aptly titled Learning. Life is, after all, both ugly and filled with promise. — Capt. Obvious

Listen:
Learning
Mr. Peterson