Heat Waves

From the jubilant stomps, handclaps, and three-part harmonies that send the first track, "Flat Earth," soaring—complete with West African polyrhythms and Phil Spector–style '60s pop—it's clear we're in for an unique treat. Heat Waves is sheer delight: 10 tracks of infectious, highly danceable music that filters intricate harmonies, distorted but melodic guitar, tuba (yes, tuba), and joyful drums into a melting pot of ideas. "Maybe a Memory" starts with a repeated series of fuzzy but twittering guitar notes that become the song's backbone; they take a slight step back when the vocal layering begins and turn up the energy when the vocals recede. Many of these songs work similar magic, grabbing you with singular parts that are as strong alone as they are interwoven with counterparts. If you know the Tuareg guitar music of Tinariwen or Terakaft, those styles may come to mind when you hear the distinct melodies and guitar tones in the too-brief "Upward" and the desert-flavored "The Crown Caves In." "Lonely Ghost" crackles with a powerful, gritty guitar riff that gets the imagination going. Sabbath meets Tinariwen? We're game.