Wool See is the alias of Vermont artist IAME, one that he debuted in the mid-2010s as a way to explore a more experimental one-man-band hip hop/synth pop sound. The last time we heard from Wool See was last Halloween, when he dropped Wooloween Vol. 3, an instrumental release based on horror movie sample flips. Now he’s back with a more typical Wool See release, Cope Money.

As you make your way through Cope Money, you can both see Wool See’s rootas and the ways in which he continues to evolve as an artist. There are the ways in which Wool See always engages in new technology and techniques and keeps experimenting with different sounds and styles, and the ways in which lyricism reflects the ongoing aging and maturing process that happens to an artist, which all push the music forward into new territories. At the same time, there are moments and approaches throughout the album that remind you of Wool See’s roots in the underground hip hop scene of the early 2000s, when he was part of Oldominion, whether it be his flow or just the approach to his beatmaking. This is all to say that Cope Money is heady music and very experimental in approach. While there is a lot of dense lyricism and abstract poetry, it’s all really exciting music that has moments where it bumps, and there are also moments where personal moments in Wool See’s lyrics cut through the noise and hit your ears like a ton of bricks. It won’t be for everyone, but for those adventurous listeners willing to take a chance on something different, Wool See will reward you greatly for putting in the time.

Cope Money is challenging and adventurous, but it’s also done with a lot of care and purpose. IAME uses the Wool See name to veer off into this experimental electronic direction of hip hop, but he’s still delivering really thoughtful lyricism and top shelf production in the process.