The latest set from this Brooklyn outfit finds the boys trafficking in New Order-ian constructions even more than usual. The burnished indie-pop sound gives way at times to a more electronic feel. In particular, the bass has a real Peter Hook-style bounce.

Bridges and Powerlines National Fantasy (Devise)

And yet . . . the garage pop roots still remain. When B&P wants to soar, it does so with three chords and fuzz. No amount of mannered precision can completely wipe away the joy bounding behind these songs.

Which makes it very hard for me to call this a full evolution, even. Rather, it's more of a shading. A parsing of styles, if you will. This set is different enough to make old fans pause for a moment, but not so much that it moves the band into new territory. We're talking more about refinishing the floors.

When you've been putting out quality fare for as long as these boys, you're gonna want to shake things up a bit. Bridges and Powerlines does that without altering its fundamental core. That kind of approach makes me hopeful for the albums to come.

Jon Worley