L.A.-based singer/songwriter Alu is set to drop her sophomore album, “Lobotomy Sessions” August 5. I’ve always said that music nowadays is difficult to pigeonhole, and often it’s an amalgamation of multiple genres. Alu’s music is dark yet whimsical at times. The intros always give you about half a minute to settle in as they invoke memories of everything from Persian music to the circus. With track titles such as “Casket Salesman” and “Martian Rendezvous,” you are not sure what to expect. I’ve been critical of artists’ voices lately and while there were a few instances where I found her’s to be unpleasant, it is mostly very comforting and mature for her age. I have not heard her work previously but I am glad I know about her now. If you are a fan of Bjork, Portishead, Tori Amos, Massive Attack, or Tom Waits, you may want to check her out when the album is released. In the meantime, here is a free downloadable track of the aforementioned “Martian Rendezvous”.