Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition was co-written with Influenzavirus A and features indie-gaze from The Nuts, modern classical by PRISM Quartet, indie-folk by People I Like, dancey new wave by Kelsey, and smooth jazz by STELLA.

The Nuts, The Nuts Hang Out!
This excellent debut album by Ann Arbor indie-gaze quintet The Nuts delivers on the promise of the four singles that led up to it. The 10 songs—including the previously released "All I Can," "Winter Song," "Rabbit," and "Black Time"—work the intersection between the gauzier side of effects-pedal-soaked guitar music and jangly indie rock, but one of my favorite things about The Nuts are the band's vocals. The voices are out front and layered perfectly, giving the songs a solid place to focus your ears as the music swirls and spins in every way. I kept thinking of Ride's second album, 1992's Going Blank Again, which dialed back the beautiful haze of its debut LP, the shoegaze classic Nowhere, for something that nodded as much to 1960s psych-rock as modern indie. The Nuts also throw in a smart and unique take on Kraftwerk's "Computer Love."

PRISM Quartet, TITLE
PRISM Quartet was founded in 1984 by saxophone students at the University of Michigan. Only U-M educator Timothy McAllister remains in Ann Arbor, but the quartet's musicians—including Zachary Shemon, Matthew Levy, and Taimur Sullivan—still get together in between university teaching gigs to record and perform regularly. The saxophone ensemble has explored the intersections of classical, new music, and jazz throughout its existence, and the new TITLE album continues that tradition. Composer Adam Silverman wrote six pieces whose names are taken from Wordle scores: "Quiet," "Thorn," "Ultra," "Rogue," "Yearn," and "Helix." Bruce Hodges' terrific liner notes do a great job of describing the music, which can be hypnotic and lovely as on "Quiet" and "Helix" or a little spikey as on "Thorn" and "Rogue."

People I Like, People I Like
People I Like's self-titled debut results from two married couples bringing together their extraordinary gifts for gorgeous songcraft. California's Kina Grannis and Imaginary Future (Jesse Epstein) and Ann Arbor's Mree and Henri Bardot each have their own careers, with all the singer-songwriters working in the atmospheric and twinkly side of folk-pop. That's the sound here, too, but it's their combined voices on these 10 songs that will melt your soul. If you love to soundtrack your dawns and twilights with introspective music featuring impeccable harmonies, you will adore People I Like. RIYL: boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers, Ida.

Kelsey, "Throw the Stone"
Kelsey Detering, formerly known as Ceolsige, was distinctly in the indie-rock singer-songwriter camp with her 2022 EP, but a stage name change brought with it a new sound and single. Kelsey's "Throw the Stone" is a dancey, new wavey tune built over a funky and galloping bass line.

STELLA., "Amber"
Meg Brennan's 2022 EP, Legend of the Sleeping Bear, has its roots planted firmly in post-bop jazz. But the saxophonist, flutist, and U-M grad's latest single, "Amber," has more of a contemporary feel, somewhere between smooth jazz and broken beat. Released under the new project name STELLA., in collaboration with saxophonist, pianist, and beatmaker pedram, "Amber" is the perfect song to accompany a relaxing visit to an urban cafe. In fact, Brennan was in Seoul, South Korea, in a cafe, when "Amber" suddenly started playing over the speakers, so that's proof of concept right there.

Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp.