Starfucker

Think of Starfucker as a peculiarly Portland, Oregon, answer to neo-wave dance acts like Klaxons, the Teenagers and Hot Chip. The group's fey, friendly, fractured electro-pop sews cloudy Northwestern indie-pop lilt to burbling banks of plinking synths. Unlike its international compatriots, the trio's sauntering, hook-lined, lo-fi bounce is probably more at home in dorms and bedrooms than the club. There's a psychedelic undercurrent to several tracks on the group's self-titled debut, recalling recent Flaming Lips, particularly the organ-drenched "Pop Song." At other times, as on album highlight "German Love," the electro-sheen competes with jangly collegiate pop shimmer, conjuring a winsome, dreamy dance-floor-ready insistence. This fucker also has a reputation for lively, instrument-swapping performances.