Dreamachine

Habibis third album, Dreamachine, completes their journey from girl group- and surf music-influenced indie pop band to something more nuanced and varied as it adds dance-rock rhythms, loads of synths, and a sense of drama to their still-heavily melodic approach. The bands twin leaders, Rahill Jamalifard and Lenaya Lynch, and new recruits -- drummer Lyla Vander, bassist Yukary Morishima, and guitarist Ana Becker -- imbue the new sound with the same level of hookiness, and the arrangements benefit from a little more space to let the instruments breathe. The main difference is that the band have dialed down the intensity to the slow-burn setting; only one track, "Do You Want Me Now," has the same kind of punch the group had in the past. Instead, songs slink and sway with a subtle confidence -- the vocals crooning powerfully, the guitars showing restraint then exploding in hot bursts of sound, and synths filling up the corners of the mix in painterly fashion. Habibi mix and match sounds like level-headed scientists, getting fun results like smoky spy music as played by Talking Heads ("Alone Tonight"), the B-52s drenched in Valium ("On the Road"), or Delta 5 toying with Middle Eastern sounds ("Losing Control") that are very well thought out and executed. The vocal harmonies are lovely, the arrangements pop with color, and it makes for always-interesting headphone listening. The album may lack a little in the heart department, but there are other songs that dig a little deeper. The shimmering, exquisitely layered synth pop ballad "In My Dreams" is achingly pretty, and the vocals tug on the heartstrings like a toddler begging for more sweets. "My Moon" is another song that feels like there are no layers between the bands deepest feelings and the ears of the listener. The rippling guitars, staggered drumbeats, swooning synths, and above all, the unadorned lead vocal will leave all but the hardest of heart feeling something. Dreamachine strikes a nice balance between cleverness and heartfelt emotion, and overall, its a nice step forward that will reward Habibis old fans while quite probably gaining them a bunch of brand-new ones. ~ Tim Sendra