Chris Schlarb’s debut album is out on Asthmatic Kitty records, home of the peerless Sufjan Stevens and the lovely Castanets. +3

Chris Schlarb’s debut album is a 40-minute composition of free-jazz, avant-garde sounds and personal catharsis in ten sections. -2

Chris Schlarb’s debut album, instead of having track names, has sections differentiated by Roman numerals. +1

Chris Schlarb’s debut album has adorable hand drawn artwork by Grady McFerrin that tricks the listener into thinking that he’s about to listen to some winsome alt-rock. 0

Chris Schlarb’s debut album was made as a reflective reaction to being a 24-year-old father of two with a safe job in insurance before being divorced, and then made unemployed. +4

Chris Schlarb’s debut album features recorded rain that sounds rather lovely, but, ultimately makes you want to do a wee. +1

Chris Schlarb’s debut album sees him playing jazz guitar as well as piano organ and percussion on the record. +2

Chris Schlarb’s debut album features guest spots from labelmates Stevens and Castanets frontman Ray Raposa +2.

Chris Schlarb’s debut album features nothing as deliriously lovely as anything those two artists have recorded. Ever. –4

Chris Schlarb’s debut album features a recording of his son’s in-womb heartbeat mixed with white noise. –5

Chris Schlarb’s debut album has a section that sounds a bit like Antony & The Johnsons – but with, like, more recordings of rain falling. +2

Chris Schlarb’s debut album, Twilight & Ghost Stories, doesn’t actually feature any ghost stories. Or any twilight, for that matter. –3

Chris Schlarb’s debut album is, although more off the wall than anything this reviewer has listened to for a long time, a complex, but oddly moving sonic production. +2

Chris Schlarb’s debut album is rather lovely after three listens. +2