Experimentation distinguishes Trent Reznor from other formerly well-known musicians with the release of “An Omen,” the first EP from How to Destroy Angels. The album features layers of synths and instrumentation, harmonies and the vocals of Reznor’s wife, Mariqueen Maandig, among others. The music is dreamy, pulsing, whispered and strange, but an underlying structure threading throughout the collection keeps things from going too far, pulling climactic buildups back to earth with a sudden quiet. Some tracks become unsettling, but “Ice Age” beautifully showcases Maandig’s vocal talent, sweetly pacing with plunky notes and a barely-noticeable ringing sound that varies in pitch. “An Omen” will surely lead to anticipation for the band’s first full length album.

Grade: B+