So what, I might be a little late on reviewing this group. I was listening to them before you, so there, chummy. Rolling drums, electronic joyfulness, swells, crests, Danceability: this band comes complete with anything you’d like to have offered as we continue experimenting with the combined electronic and indie scenes. Great lyrics, great vocals, intelligent transitions, and, most importantly, great work on the synths. Oh, and for you people craving a little 80s, 90s twist, twist on away! Bravo Mssrs. Friendly Fires.

This takes innovation and thoughtfulness in a direction that the wild sounds of Animal Collective never could chill out enough to do. Sort of like if George Harrison’s ghost (Or was he reincarnated? We may never know…) was haunting the inside of your hollow-body electric guitar. Is that a ukulele? Whether on a beach in Hawaii somewhere, or just looking at a picture of a beach in Hawaii in your lonely old Midwestern

Clipclop clipclop clipclop. Remarkable, if not for the steady wood block sounds, then for the soaring synths that come out of your blindspot just when you’re trying to change lanes. Well-placed accent instruments, playful beat variations, and change-ups that would make Steely Dan give half a nod come together for a solid several tracks on their most recent effort.

Something draws me to the unsubtly depressive swells of this band, although I can’t quite bet my lithium on what it is. Could it be that I’m a sucker for the sad sweet sounds of a duet? Is it that I periodically have the Carpenters song Superstar in my head? Am I just an eternal sap who likes to hear sad love songs? Spatial guitar sounds, la la las, acoustic strumming, droning keyboards, and nostalgia combine to create a unique, compelling sound.

Black Ghosts
Beautiful, sublime, and masterful in its production, this album is brilliant on every track. The Black Ghosts combine energetic electronic grooves with touches of funk and jazz, with a sublime craftmanship that merits an extra large portion of toe-tapping. I’d love to call this album playful, but the serious effort given by the obviously talented musicians in this group can be seen from the first moment the music fills the air and enters your cerebrum.

The Hold Steady
Recently I referred to this band as a group finally fulfilling the potential of what midwest rock could do (from Minneapolis-Saint Paul originally, their roots grew in Brooklyn). They have also been referred to as “America’s Bar Band” – however the driving feature of this band is undoubtedly their ability to combine meaningful, sometimes heart-wrenching lyrics to a full, rock band back without ever coming across as just trying to do so. The lyrical influences, from Bruce Springsteen and Jim Carroll to Atmosphere and Jay-Z, show in this vibrant, far-spanning effort!

Chromeo
If the fun-loving, superfunk attitude that all but drips out of the air when this album is on makes is purely evident that the two members of this band never made it out of the disco mindset. But given all the modern advantages of The Electronic/Communications/Nintendo Age, what comes out of the speakers is the exact thing that would come out of Hal’s exercise room in Space Odyssey 2001! “When you wanna go Wow! When you wanna scream and shout tonight!”

Midnight Juggernauts
If there was ever an appropriate band to do a keyboard air guitar to, this would be them. The quirky vocal delivery of this group’s Talking Heads / Bee Gees hybrid is paired with simple synthesizers and a driving, dancey beat that will turn some heels over heads. Although elegantly done, this album’s music presents a solid landscape of sound, with little fragility to its structure or delivery. Very good. Danceable. Approved. Vunderbarr.

Chemical Brothers
Have you ever heard of this duo? They are neither new to me or to you, but their B-sides album is one that slipped between the cracks in late 2007, and much to my great happiness, overshadows their recent release, We Are the Night, in rainbow shades of glory. Punchy, precise, prudent, practical, and pleasant.

Shine
Tapping into the same soulful, live band sound with an easy electronic groove that has placed Zero 7 in a class of its own, Shine’s freshman album does well to please the gentle listener. With the long-awaited release of The Common Station, a few unmistakeable gems emerge (tracks Ashbury and Hawaii) with an album filled out with songs worthy of a dimly lit background and plush, bloated-looking furniture. By the end of the album, you’ll probably find yourself stretching your feet out for a nice relaxation moment.

Duffy
As if you could get enough of the early 70’s soul, reformed, remastered, retried, and reanimated! It’s been more than 30 years, and as a collective, we are all still in the grips of our imaginations, dancing on smoky dancefloors, and Duffy does well to lead us into another funky album where we can dance in tight, short cords, with our arms waving in front of us while watching those that know how to get down in Motown really do it. (Speaking of imagination, I always imagine myself dancing just like them.)

Slow Runner
Although much of their most recent release houses a benign, gentle feeling in thoughtful musical overtones, a shining gem sticks out on this album: “Trying to Put Your Heart Back Together.” This single begins slowly and picks up steam as each next track is added, tracks including a duet female vocalist, dancey percussion, and a heartfelt fill of keyboard and bass. By the end of this song, you’ll be moving your shoulders and singing along to its catchy hook.

The Little Ones
Catchy, straight-forward rock with a good beat, talented musicians, and a great frontman leading the way. This band will catch your attention with their talent, then get you smiling with their angled approach to songwriting, incorporating just the right amount of synth, drum fills, and vocal crescendos to life the proverbial spirits. Their compositions are masterfully put together, with a charm that could only be found, attracted to the Astralwerks label.

Queen of Japan
Is there something wrong with me, or is it natural to be listening to “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” on repeat? Queen of Japan takes this, and a number of other stalwart steadfasts of rock and nostalgia and feeds them to a nearby ambiguously gay, early-model, dance android, who, after chewing delicately, spits back out a barrage of capricious, shake-your-ass ridiculousness! If you’re not cheesing and rotating those hips by the end of “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” you will be after “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”!

Blank Blue (aka Nobody)
Picture yourself in a record store at closing, over-sized cheap headphones on, eyes closed shaking your head slowly with a satisfied smile perched on your lips. Suddenly you have bridged some previously irreconcilable harmony. This is what is playing. The gentle seascape layers of music that build each track to greater and greater heights are masterful: never dominating, but letting you ease into the body-temperature warmth of a much-needed embrace. The album “Western Water Music Vol. II” will take you on a ride away from the harsh realities of this world.

Mojib
Whimsical Lifestyle is the name of his album, and the image conjured of a Pacific Islander, 15-year-old kid behind the ship wheel on an old-style yacht, complete with white captain’s outfit, smiling into the breeze is fitting. This downtempo music is riddled with loops and samples that tickle your memory, and some that don’t: I hear Kings of Convenience, early Moby, and Regina Spektor track samples so far. Whimsical is the perfect word to describe this music, that carries you through lo-fi beats, acoustic guitar, Disney-like electronic instrumentation, sitars, and of course, high-harmonic bell sounds.

The Bird and the Bee
Who is this band? That’s what all the kids are saying aka what is the general response upon first listening to this group. The crystaline peals of the lead singer’s voice ring true, but make it incredibly difficult to sing along to. And you’re going to want to! The catchy, meaningful lyrics of their bouncy songs are irresistible when it comes to singing them loudly (generally incorrectly). Also, I find myself dancing with a funny crooked neck when this music is on.

I’m from Barcelona
“I have built a treehouse! I have built a treehouse! Nobody can see us: It’s a You and Me House!” with a banjo/mandolin/oohs/aahs backing and full-on danceability. I think they are probably not from Barcelona, as I, for some reason, can’t really picture a Spanish treehouse. Imagining that such things exist are beyond me. This band reminds you of something you can’t quite put your finger on, but don’t really feel pressure to dwell on. (ps. they are Swedish.)

Wildbirds & Peacedrums
Wild as in Amazonian rainforest wild! Their music is such an amalgam of styles and influences that it is literally impossible to classify – and it sounds as if it’s all created between a Swedish songbird and a Nord drummer. And it is! As Swedish pop duos go, they match the Scandinavian eccentricity that you’d expect, ranging from jumprope chants (with the backing of hand-made peacedrums) to nostalgic blues in the scope of each song. Any way you look at this band, it is a fun listen with its own brand of energy: an experience in itself.

Smoosh

This band will put a smile on your face. They are just the typical friendly, unpretentious, musically talented indie-pop duo. Except for that they are sisters under the age of 16. This album was created as a duo, but the third sister has recently joined, making this literally fun for the whole family. Music is heavy on the piano, features lush, intelligent vocals with minimalist bass and guitar parts strewn about. A great find!

Apparat & Ellen Allien

This recent collaboration between Apparat and Ellen Allien is hard to place, as you could hear this in a salon, an upscale trendy restaurant, or on a stereo while you’re getting ready. The solid combination of influences puts some enjoyable drumlines, bass, and vocals in the air that ranges in moods from pensive to heartbroken to danceable, and will have you look up toward the end of the album and say something to the point of “Is this still the same disc? This is amazing.” 

Caribou

Caribou caught my eye on the Free Design remix album, and has recaptured my attention with their release Andorra. This release starts of solidly with a quick tempo, and adds layers upon layers of complicated harmonies for a beautiful presentation. Andorra is a tiny undiscovered country in Western Europe, which is a lot like Caribou – independent, sovereign, and I have no clue where they came from. Side note: Microsoft Word recognizes Andorra as a real word.

Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Don’t let the poppy punctuation fool you, they are diverse and danceable. Their new CD inspires your ass to get moving, is innovative, expressive, and generally well put together. With tracks titled “Attack of the 60 ft. Lesbian Octopus” and “Being Bad Feels Pretty Good” how could you go wrong?

Ghostland Observatory
Solid. An all-around solid band who greatly deserve their recent attention. They are an amalgam of Japanese De-Ionizing Foot Pads and 3 a.m. Strong Coffee, ready to point your toes to the dance floor and scream at you if you start falling asleep. If you get a chance to see them this summer, take that chance and take a friend. I am feeling a wide range of appeal here.

Bonobo
With a little help from Bajka who also makes appearances with Radio Citizen, Bonobo has created a beautiful album. If you’re a tracks person, check out “Days to Come,” the title track of the album, it will get you a solid taste for the complex instrumentation, lyrics and playful harmonies of this group.