VHS or Beta

For those of us who dig on electro-rock, it's usually a good sign when a band is attached to Astralwerks. The label responsible for Basement Jaxx and Fatboy Slim is also now home to VHS or Beta. Yet another one of those trendy new-wave revivalist groups, the Beta boys of Kentucky deserve their kudos. The group's Astralwerks debut, which came out last year, includes singer and guitarist Craig Pfunder's first recorded vocals for the eight-year-old band, and the deep yowl he'd kept hushed resembles that of his favorite 1980s frontman, Robert Smith. Most of the songs on the album, including title track "Night On Fire," are booty-shaking anthems fit for the in-store soundtrack at the Gap (which ain't always a bad thing). The rest are searing instrumental pieces that stretch on as long as nine minutes and burn just as hot live. Sparks are certain this spring on a tour shared with Detroit dance rockers the Electric Six, which, incidentally, has a rowdy, fire-themed album of its own.