Wayward Fire

Rather than borrowing from the overblown rock sounds of the ‘70s, this Denver artist Kamtin Mohager breathes an exhilarating second life into the pop sounds of the ‘80s. Mohager coaxes a convincing falsetto into airy, synth pop territory when he’s not using a dusky, austere delivery to work over the distorted synths and rubbery guitars. Tunes ping-pong between the dance-floor euphoria of bands like Human League and the anthem rock of Simple Minds, sometimes blending them (as on “Undercover,” “Taste of Heaven,” and “Heartbreaking Scream”), and often giving them a slithering, Primal Scream backbone. The crispy synths on “Ethical Drugs” nudge up to a seductive, languid bed of keyboard and warm congas; “Hold On” blends an irresistible dance beat, glassy synths, and effervescent vocals with a hazy, au courant pop vibe. The Beck-ish, Fleetwood Mac-sampling “Stop” flows with liquid funk, a hip-swaying poke at youthful fatuity, while the staticky coating on the pulsating “Devil Lady” hints at LCD Soundsystem. Wayward Fire is a hugely smart and sexy juggernaut of a record.