There is probably no better name for this band than Supercluster. Featuring members of Pylon, Olivia Tremor Control, Deerhunter, Casper & the Cookies and many, many more, the group is only about three members short of having every band in Athens involved in some way.

Waves could have become a study on what happens when too many indie chefs are in the experimental kitchen. Instead, Supercluster’s debut record is a tightly knit community project with only small hints to the musical lineage of the members of the band.

It only sounds a tad like Pylon because Vanessa Briscoe Hay is singing. But instead of her usual short, yelped phrases, there’s a melody at work, calling you further into the song. Fellow Pyloner Randy Bewley contributed guitar, but it’s an evolved sound unlike any other he recorded.

If there’s a single band that Supercluster sounds like, it would probably be Casper & the Cookies, but even that is a bit of a stretch. Songs like “Anyone” and “Mermaid’s Tale” have a more distinct pop feel like a Cookies cut. Then a song like “Sunflower Clock” comes along and demonstrates how a cello should be properly handled when supporting a droning vocal.

The album is pleasantly confusing with a criss-cross of traditional rock instruments like guitar and drums holding down the song while oboes, cellos and even a paper bag are tossed into the mix. Waves does lack a standout single, but that may be a good thing in this case. All of the songs sound unique, but there is still a cohesive element that helps the album flow.

The record is dedicated to the memory of Bewley, whose artwork adorns the cover of Waves. There’s no doubt that he would’ve been proud of the record. It’s a jumble of different parts and people coming together to create something new and interesting. And if anyone has the talent and heart to do it right, Supercluster does.

Jordan Stepp