Crucially, Maximum Balloon – the latest project from producer Dave Sitek – was recorded in the sun-drenched environs of LA rather than the dingy, windowless New York studio where Sitek produced albums by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars and his own band, TV On the Radio. So while this is definitely a Sitek album – the dense, multi-layered aural trademarks are still in place – it feels airier and less fraught; it's pop music, but with a slightly woozy edge. It's also not a typical solo album; each of the 10 tracks feature a guest vocalist, from David Byrne on the Talking Heads-meets-Prince funk of Apartment Wrestling, to Swedish newcomers Little Dragon on the synth-heavy rush of If You Return. This new sunnier disposition is felt most on its two highlights; opener Groove Me, featuring rapper Theophilus London, is brilliantly lascivious, while Karen O sounds blissful on the lovely Communion. It may lack the emotional depth of some of his previous work, but as instant gratification goes, it's pretty perfect.