Even in the sensation-crazed world of experimental techno, quirkiness for its own sake is only a good thing the first few times you hear it. That's why the music Mike Paradinas makes as Mu-Ziq is such a joy: you're hearing a fertile, young mind bask in its own creativity, and there are also these weird little melodies going on, as well. Mu-Ziq records are rarely focused, which is at times a liability and at others a minor miracle. Royal Astronomy is the most user-friendly Mu-Ziq record to date, with lovely diva vocals and more textures and hooks than ever to accompany both the frenetic, sped-up drill-and-bass tracks and the mellow, loopy ones. Mu-Ziq's rhythmic experiments are coated in whimsy and tempered with lyricism. --Mike McGonigal