Band’s sound far better than its grammar

tUnE-yArDs

w h o k i l l

Record label:… tUnE-yArDs

w h o k i l l

Record label: 4AD

Rocks Like: Afropop meets a feminine Animal Collective

Grade: A-

Don’t let the band’s oddly capitalized name deter you: tUnE-yArDs’ w h o k i l l isn’t just another feminine record crooning about lost love or “dancing until the world ends.”

Whereas its predecessor BiRd-BrAiNs was quirky and limited, w h o k i l l is quirky and expansive: an offbeat personal confession that could morph into a serious contender for indie-dance album of the year.

Ukulele samples and vocal tracks loop over street noise and interspersed percussion, all masterfully constructed by Oakland, Calif.,-based songwriter Merrill Garbus and executed to perfection by her group’s supporting members.

The quirky and clattering horns of “Bizness,” the album’s first single, exude the playful and fresh improvisation that drives the polyrhythms of pop, indie, Afrobeat, reggae and hip-hop throughout the album.

“Gangsta” opens with the whirring of distant sirens and heavy distortion before breaking into a catchy bass line, intermittent percussion and Garbus’ layered vocals that imitate the modulations of the siren.

A demonstration of soul comes across clearly in “Powa,” a track with a fairly regular melody and hushed rhythm that conceal the transformative power of the lyrics like: “I need you to press me down before my body flies away from me.”

Playful lyrics, adventurous instrumentation, quality production and a boisterous attitude characterize Garbus’ second album, a startling transition from the decidedly lo-fi-sounding first album in 2009. A combination of charisma and a sense of abandon instrumentally and vocally creates a polished yet experimental work suited equally for casual listening and dancing.