The final line of the opening song on Peloton's new self-titled disc is "Fuck all the little birds". That's just how cool this band is. Their brand of laid-back indie rock is so tightly wound and sweetly orchestrated that it works in the background or at the forefront. Atmospheric guitars and special effects romp atop a swiftly driving drumbeat that makes you feel like driving down a long dark road at night.

Miyako Ueki's vocals on "Blue Field" bring to mind the more whimsical moments of Bjork's early career, as her band backs her up like the Byrds circa 1965. By the time the synthesizer solo comes in at the end, the song has fluttered through just about every possible genre except for death metal.

The sweetest song on the disc is no doubt the ethereal "For Anyone Who'll Listen", as Peloton moves from the hypnotic pop and rock sounds of its other songs into a more experimental psychedelic realm. Just when it feels like it'll be a great instrumental, Miyako comes in again. It doesn't matter that she's not singing in English, because the song makes enough sense as it is. Besides, the vocals are so much in the background that they're hard to hear anyway, and the main focus here is clearly how well Peloton gels as a band.

Peloton literally means "ball" in English, but the full definition deals with bicycle riders who accommodate one another in the perfect formation for a road race. It's a fabulous name for this innovative band that blends so many competing sounds into one workable, lovely unit. Peloton is a fabulous debut for a band that sounds like a meeting of Cibo Matto, Death Cab for Cutie, and Jefferson Airplane. The album is nostalgic and experimental at the same time, integrating all things that make pop music fun and rock music...well, rock. (self-released)

-Kim Ruehl