Electrelane - The Power Out
6 out of 10
See also: The Pretenders, Cat Power

The album title is a misnomer conjuring up jokes about how many emos it takes to screw in a light bulb. What these ladies from Brighton really achieve is a kind of sonic illumination.

In their second full-length release, Electrelane fearlessly explores styles ranging from indie to glam to punk to minimalist instrumentals.

While the vocals and style morph from track to track, there is a unifying, confident, eclectic sensuality that has also been found in the efforts of The Pretenders and Cat Power.

"The Power Out" is one of the band's first forays into vocals and lyrics. Occasionally this newness shows by way of washed-out sentimentality, but there is never a clumsy moment as they transition from English to French to German.

The album's second track, "On Parade," has been receiving moderate airtime on college and independent public radio stations. It is a distinct tune that may or may not strike the listener as an '80s homage.

Other songs of note on the album include "The Valleys," a surprising departure featuring the stylings of a Chicago choir, and "Take That Bit Between Your Teeth," where they flaunt an ability to rock out should the need arise.

Electrelane is in the midst of a North American tour that will roll into Tucson Sept. 17 for a show at Solar Culture.