The underground is still alive and well.

Emancipator's (Virginia-born multi-instrumentalist Doug Appling) sophomore release, Safe in the Steep Cliffs, picks up right about where Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, his 2007 debut, left off. He continues to still channel more recognizable triphop acts like Sneaker Pimps and Moby without sounding like an also-ran. And, I am still amazed that he is still in his early 20's, meaning we hopefully have a lot of years of music to come.

“Greenland” opens the disc with the same deep-rooted cool that dripped through most of Emancipator's debut, with a solid drum loop and his (now) trademark acoustic guitars instantly transporting me back to quiet drives on pitch black country roads three years ago, listening to “Soon it Will Be Cold Enough to Build Fires,” “Anthem” and “Good Knight”. The lay-low head-bobbing swagger of “Black Lake” gives way to the steady build in instant standout (and oft-replayed) “Jet Stream”, to the ubercool “Kamakura.” And the album does not let up, with the beautiful “Siren,” complete with haunting female vocal sampling, ably carrying the second half of this 14-track beauty.

The overall vibe on Safe in the Steep Cliffs, while similar to Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, feels a bit more laid back. That could simply be natural evolution. It could be intentional. Either way, anyone in the mood for a bit of extra cool in their musical lineup would not be disappointed in picking up this, or his 2007 album. An early contender for album of the year.