Numbers

Once the darlings of the arty dance-rock set, the Bay Area's Numbers thunder into brave new territory on their latest disc, Now You Are This. Although the band is still groovy as hell, their new album is heavy with Jesus and Mary Chain-style guitar fuzz and the pounding drums and sonic textures of the best tracks by Loop. The trio adeptly alternates between bounce and lament. To wit: After two minutes of feedback and drone noise, "Liela Mila" transforms into a haunting piano-and-flute dirge that could be the reprise from a noir Western. But things get more rocking on the very next track, as "Everything Is Fine" pogos its way around the after-hours basement party.

The real beauty of Now You Are This, however, lies in the pulsing intensity of jams like "Fly on the Window" and "What Happened to You," which build into shimmering walls of sound. Drummer Indra Dunis' falsetto vocals are balanced by extended periods of Eric Landmark's keyboard effects and occasional noodling from guitarist Dave Brokema, and the result is sublime. Whether heard on a sweaty dance floor or during a secluded, stoney midnight, this is music that wraps itself tightly around you.