The Crystal Method, "Divided By Night" (Tiny e Records)

Electronic music stalwarts The Crystal Method have crafted a fine fourth album with "Divided By Night." It retains their signature dancefloor-infused cadence while displaying a new sense of musical and lyrical urgency.

Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland would be guilty of falling prey to predictability by now if their sound patterns and vocal layers weren't so inventive. Thankfully, they've avoided that trap.

There's a lovely lilt to the best song, "Drown in the Now," which features Hasidic rapper Matisyahu. The quickness of Matisyahu's vocal approach blends nicely with The Crystal Method's relentless driving tempo. It's a perfect crescendo of Matisyahu's hip-hop wordplay layered with electronic break-beats.

Most other tracks have decidedly fewer vocals, and instead are fueled by buzzing bass lines. They're not so fast that they take the songs into the head-banging techno realm, yet n! ot so slow as to lull the listener into a false sense of aural complacency.

The Crystal Method knows just when to pick up the pace, and on songs like "Double Down Under," they add some dirty deconstructed sounds effects to invigorate the melody.

The Crystal Method remains ahead of the curve in the electronica genre.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: The slow and spacey beginnings to "Sine Language" gives way to a bawdy rap about partying hard. If Hollywood ever remakes "2001: A Space Odyssey," this sizzling, futuristic song should be the title track.


Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.