Upon first listen, Fern's "Absentee" sounds like wind chimes and falling drumsticks in the middle of a tunnel being pelted by rain. What could easily be cacophonous and jarring is instead a beautifully layered track; with each listen, it's easier to pick out the different sounds but also becomes less clear how this duo managed to put them together so well.
Were it not for the lovely, haunting vocals, I'd confuse it for a sound installation in a dark room at a contemporary art museum, but of the best kind: surprising, and evocative, and worthy of pause.