4th & Wall

For the uninitiated, West Indian Girl are not a reggae band, and for those who haven't been paying attention, they aren't an electro-studio duo anymore, either. With 4th & Wall the twosome has expanded to a sextet with the addition of live bass, drums, percussion, and guitar, further swelled by a host of guest musicians, greatly extending WIG's aural vistas and influences -- which now span the musical spectrum from synth pop to classic rock, from new wave to techno. A Keith Richards-ish guitar lick enlivens the infectious "Get Up," echoes of "Free Bird" soar in the finale of "Sofia," the Soup Dragons' spirit swirls around "Lost Children," and Echo & the Bunnymen's moody atmospheres pool around "To Die in LA" and "All My Friends." On the irresistible "Solar Eyes," the group juxtaposes bubbly synth pop against a lusher new romantic style and a four-on-the-floor disco beat, then stirs in spacy effects and a funky feel. Like West Indian Girl's California home, the band's music is an exhilarating experience, and a fabulous place to lose one's self. -All Music Guide