Lightbulbs

iTunes Review

The unwavering motorik track “Knickerbocker” on F&M’s second album moves with all the smooth, urgent, flow of any LCD Soundsystem dance track, but it has an oddly soothing, hypnotic vibe. David Best (Miyagi) keeps his vocals lowered in a confessional hush, while Steve Lewis (Fujiya) rocks it up with understated beats that sneak up on you. Although there are a few tracks with energy levels not terribly far from “Knickerbocker” (“Hundreds & Thousands,” “Sore Thumb”), there is an undeniably relaxed vibe overall. Lightbulbs feels like hip dinner party music, or impress-her-on-the-first-date car music. The vaguely Asian flavored “Pickpocket,” the snaky, exotic “Dishwasher,” or the slow, slinky and silly “Uh” (“Uh! Oh, sock it to me! Sock it to me!”) are get your groove on invitations. Best’s breathy “ooh-ah-ah, ooh-ooh-ah-ah”s on “Pterodactyls” are alluring and irresistible, and the subdued sexiness of “Pussyfooting” is a visceral delight. F&M (now a full foursome) turn up the humor levels here, in a Flight of the Conchords kind of way. It’s sheer genius when Best concocts a soothing rhyme out of, “when you’re .. premenstrual, I will play chill-out compilation instrumentals.” Smooth.