Milwaukee’s experimental underground rarely plays by the rules, and MR. MURPHY’s latest offering, “Sound of Cloudness,” is a perfect example of why we keep our ears glued to the city’s stranger frequencies. The new release is a heady, drifting plunge into experimental territory — equal parts atmospheric meditation and quietly defiant sonic collage.

From the opening moments, “Sound of Cloudness” sets a tone that’s hazy without being sleepy, cerebral without being cold. MR. MURPHY layers texture on top of texture, building something that feels less like a traditional album and more like weather rolling in. There are loops that hover and dissolve, tones that wobble in and out of focus, and moments where the whole thing threatens to evaporate before snapping back into shape. It’s the kind of record that rewards headphones, patience, and a willingness to let the music dictate the pace.

What makes the project land is the restraint. Plenty of experimental releases mistake density for depth, but MR. MURPHY leaves room for the listener — gaps in the arrangement that turn into their own kind of instrument. The result is a release that feels personal and exploratory rather than performative, the sound of an artist following an idea wherever it drifts.

Stream “Sound of Cloudness” in full on Bandcamp and support the artist directly: https://mrmurphy.bandcamp.com/album/sound-of-cloudness

Press play, let the clouds roll in, and keep an eye on MR. MURPHY — Milwaukee’s experimental scene is more interesting with this record in it.