††† – Crosses

Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno has kept himself busy with the release of the excellent Palms earlier last year, but he's also been making dramatic, electronic-tinged rock as ††† (or, for simplicity's sake, Crosses) with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez. The outfit's first two EPs from 2011 and 2012 are included here, resequenced, essentially rendering this an expanded reissue or deluxe mixtape. Though it serves as an excellent retrospective of their work thus far, new material is in short supply.

 

Luckily, the original songs are just as strong – †he epilogue is a seductive slice of dark pop, and the brooding bi†ches brew gloriously erupts into blissful catharsis in its final minute. Moreno's iconic voice is right at home within the context of laptop click tracks and keyboard melodies. He's been transcending genres for years now, but it's only recently that he's begun to prove himself as a master of the hook. The proof is right here.