Modular

The third release by Spanish electro-pop duo the Pinker Tones isn't a major stylistic left turn from their previous work, or a grand artistic statement. They're interested in fun -- their own, and the listeners'. Beats are uptempo, lyrics are lighthearted (tracks here include Game Boy Music and Friends Around the World), and the lyrics are in both English and Spanish. Tokyo is a great indication of how far they've come, and how far they haven't, since Salvador Mister Furia Rey borrowed Alex Professor Manso Llovet's home studio, kicking off their partnership in 2001. It's late afternoon/Please turn off your iPod, we'll be landing very soon/The L.A. sun hurts my eyes/Passport immigration taxi check-in and jet lag, Rey sings like a character in a Bret Easton Ellis novel, idly considering traveling to Japan out of sheer ennui. Behind him, the music is pure early-'80s new wave; it wouldn't be at all surprising to hear the voice of Missing Persons vocalist Dale Bozzio crop up on the chorus (it doesn't). Invisible shows their slightly harder side; it features distorted guitar and real drums. But when it's over, it's right back to the land of chirpy keyboard pop with the Modular Mix of Con Mi Camara. Throughout Modular, these guys come off like a Latin Daft Punk, with a more obvious sense of humor and a cheerful admission that not only are they human, they're humanists. The Pinker Tones want everyone within earshot to smile and have fun, making this a perfect hot-weather album. ~ Phil Freeman, Rovi