The Invitation to the Voyage (Bonus Track Version)

Eugene McGuinness is a young, slight Brit with a ginormous talent for pop music that's bristling and soothing, sexy and cerebral, and driven by his lyrical dexterity, theatrical passion, and skilled ear for melody. His third studio record, The Invitation to the Voyage, is a heady rainbow of color, drenched in a sort of Rufus Wainwright–meets–Damon Albarn brew of vibrant neon and animated metamorphoses. Pianos, horns, strings, and the occasional tablas play as prominent a role as do the sharp guitars and a swaggering rhythm section in creating irrepressible dance tunes of all flavors. McGuinness’ penchant for stammering choruses, handclaps, and vintage sounds is put to good work: “Sugarplum” is a midtempo, long-legged delight rooted in sleek ‘80s synth-pop, while “Harlequinade” is a modern disco gem with layers of synth blasts and funky guitar riffs nearly buried under gleaming horns and McGuinness’ potent vocals. A hit in the U.K., “Shotgun” is built on Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn” bass line, and “Lion” roars out of its starting gate on reverb-coated surf guitar. Hang on; you’re in for a ride.