Some albums can shape our outlook on music forever, having a hold over us throughout our lives and giving us meaning. Other albums exist on the outskirts of this range, acting as a diversion for the listener in their daily lives. These albums can be as great or as poor as any other album, but offer a listener the chance to enter a different world without making them give too much of their attention away. “My Method Actor” by Nilüfer Yanya is an album that does a great job of accomplishing this.

Yanya’s third album does something different while also doing something familiar. It is easy to digest and leaves you satisfied when you’re done listening. The track “Like I Say (I runaway)” is, at its core, a slow-burning song with a steady electronic drum beat. Once the chorus explodes, so do Yanya’s voice and a textured guitar, with the fuzziness of a shoegaze track bringing the listener into a position where they just have to nod their heads along. Yanya’s lyrics are also something to listen to, tackling the realization that time is valuable and how we use it matters.

“Faith’s Late” is another song with subdued instrumentation until the last minute or so where an orchestral section is added for a swelling crescendo. In this song, Yanya sings about facing identity when challenged with questions that perplex our livelihoods. The most interesting track of the whole album is, in my opinion, “Just A Western,” as it changes the structure that previous songs have followed. Yanya lays down a country-inspired beat on the guitar while synthesizers swirl around the listener’s heads. The spacey production is an excellent example of mood-building in a song and emphasizes the power of a well-designed track.

“My Method Actor” is an excellent example of an album that is a nice getaway. After its 44-minute runtime, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to get on with your day. While it may not be the best album you’ve ever heard, it is a must-listen that does a great job of being a complex and fun release at the same time.