VIOLENS

Two prevailing indie trends of the day come together on Violens’ second album—with sexy, sexy results. The guitars are crisp, cool and prismatic; set against bouncing bass and snappy beats, they recall the finest U.K. jangle bands of the ’80s. But mastermind Jorge Elbrecht paints from memory, and memories are unreliable. His songs are abstractions, and thus the album’s leadoff single and not-quite-title-cut “Totally True” comes off like a Smiths tune that’s been sped up, slowed down or left in the sun to warp. It’s very much in keeping with the “half-remembered” wooze-pop aesthetic of Washed Out and Neon Indian, acts that set the tone for much of last year’s indie-rock. Bringing these disparate strands together is the attitude. With Elbrecht’s breathy George Michael vocals and the trio’s superbly suave synths, Violens cruise with finesse. –Kenneth Partridge