The Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood of Williamsburg is a melting pot of culture from all over the world and a hotbed for artists and musicians. One band that seems as if it could not have existed without the neighborhood is TV on the Radio.

The group’s new album, Dear Science, is much like the neighborhood, crossing many borders and bringing back different influences to one place. Afrobeat is well explored on the album, and you can hear its influence on tracks such as “Red Dress” and the closing track “Lovers Day,” with highly percussive back beats.

Songs like “Dancing Choose” and the first single, “Crying,” contain the strong saxophone blasts the band explored some on their previous release, Return To Cookie Mountain. The new work has a more produced sound to it, but still holds onto the edge established on the earlier material. The album features guest appearences from the likes of Katrina Ford of the Baltimore-based band Celebration and the horn section of the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Dear Science might seem a bit unusual when reading about it, but take the time to explore this fantastic addition to the TV on the Radio catalog and you won’t be disappointed.

Hear tracks from TV on the Radio’s Dear Science throughout the week on 89.7 WTMD, listener-supported radio from Towson University. Visit wtmd.org

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