& Yet, Strangled Darlings, Cloud Person, Tyler Aker

In the beginning, Cloud Person was just that. Pete Jordan started the now-six-piece outfit as a solo project. But soon he needed a violin and stand-up bass to fill out his acoustic guitar sound, then drums and keys. The Seattle band’s sound is reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, and just like that was — and is — Jeff Mangum’s band, Cloud Person is Jordan’s project — he wrote, recorded and mixed the new album Monochrome Places. It’s his cloud; he’s just inviting others to come and sit on it with him.