Color (n.) Inside the Lines

“I jumped out and I left my parachute,” Dave Elkins declares on the debut album of his solo vehicle Schematic. Indeed, these tracks show moments of risk-taking that bring the ex-Mae lead singer out of his comfort zone into more experimental territory. At the same time, the music here stays rooted in his aching, crystalline vocals and knack for melodic richness and empathetic lyric content. Elkins’ leanings toward an idiosyncratic type of prog-rock can be heard in the dynamic shifts and orchestral strings of “You Are My Southern Girl” and the bonus track “Fluorescent.” Upbeat rockers like “Outside” and “All-Time Quarterback” flex solid muscle, while “Stand” matches a fragmented funk beat with electronic filigree and “Where’s the Soul?” alternates between smooth and choppy textures. Lyrically, Elkins is skilled at tracing the feints and embraces of people falling in love, as well as blurring the distinctions between everyday romance and spiritual rapture. The playful “Hide & Seek” and the sweet, caressing “What It Means” are particularly strong examples of his finely drawn imagery and compassionate tone.