Erika M. Anderson’s Past Life Martyred Saints was quietly one of the best albums of 2011: lo-fi but cavernous, even its barren confessional tracks sounded weightier than most, while its Lou Reed beat tangents (“California”) hit with artillery force. But there’s nothing quiet about “Satellites”, EMA’s first release since; if Past Life Martyred Saintswas spiky, then “Satellites” is like an oncoming broadside of spikes.

The track begins and ends alternating from distorted shredding to a looming drone, like the sound that’d underscore an (astronomically loose) space opera’s approaching black hole. In between, “Satellites” pulls in sounds with equally operatic force: a gothy piano throb, industrial drum loop and synth squall, sawing violins, landline feedback. Anderson towers above, throaty and multitracked to ten feet of swagger. It’s discontent composed to Carl Sagan proportion, and it’s easily the most bracing thing yet from an artist already more bracing than most.