Sand

On early highlight “Losers”, Devoldere conjures his solo work under the moniker Warhaus, offering a sultrily prophetic vocal reminiscent of Leonard Cohen: “I’ve been tying my shoes together / then I’ve been trying to walk away.” The glitchy chorus is irresistibly carried by Deprez’s contrastive falsetto, undergirded by a swirly bass line and jazzily constructed beats. The following “On a Roll” is immediately seductive, featuring a rakish vocal à la Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and a higher-pitched and uber-hook-y chorus – finger-snapping, hip-swaying, ultra-nirvanic pop.

“I Want You” conjures Reflektor-era Arcade Fire, synth-y bass and slinky beats sustaining a dance-y vibe while Devoldere’s vocal takes on a slightly sinister tone. Horns on the song’s bridge invite melancholy without disrupting the buoyant feel. On “You Won’t Come Around”, the band delves deeper into the dance-rock catalog, alchemizing the early pop and mid-career disco of the Bee Gees, perhaps by way of MGMT’s 2007 debut Oracular Spectacular, or recent work by Tame Impala. “Hourglass” may remind some listeners of recent Cage the Elephant, the moody verse giving way to a countertenor-propelled, ebullient, and instantly beguiling chorus.

- By John Amen