*** Komeda

WHAT MAKES IT GO?

(Minty Fresh)

"Binario," the leadoff track of Komeda's second US album, is one of the year's brightest pop frolics -- a hip cyber-funk groove with a playtime vibe and percolating organ topped with Lena Karlson's breathy-gal vocals. The rest of What Makes It Go? plays like a Swedish Stereolab, or what Stereolab might sound like if they were more than a one-and-a-half-trick pony. And had a sense of humor. And better singing. Although it's not as immediately clever as the previous The Genius of Komeda, there's a more devious nature lurking beneath the new album's devil-may-care whistles and snowy-white songcraft. This frisky spirit permeates the quartet's lazy lounging grooves (bossa nova, lurching rock), krautrock futurism, and penchant for soundtrack melodies -- the band take their name from Krzysztof Komeda, the composer who scored Rosemary's Baby. But though humor colors the entire CD, Komeda never smirk with enough irony to betray their love of pure pop.

-- Tristram Lozaw