The music of Foster the People—comprised of Mark Foster (vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, guitar, programming, percussion), Mark Pontius (drums and extra percussion), and Cubbie Fink (bass and backing vocals)—can best be described as a combination of The Sounds and The Bravery…let’s just say the synth and keyboard are their best friends. Foster’s vocals remind me of Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit’s high-pitched singing, and the group actually employs many of the same elements as Passion Pit but is more experimental and a lot harder when it comes to the eletro-breakdowns.

The group’s debut album, Torches, takes indie pop/rock to new heights, and its upbeat ambience and danceable synth bliss make for the perfect summer soundtrack. The album’s beats will get down to your core, and its techo and eletro-punk elements result in a dance anthem album that will have you moving.

It’ll only take one listen to the album’s first single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” before you will be whistling along to the chorus, and the keyboard breakdown in the middle of “Miss You” completely catches one by surprise—the song seems to end and then all hell breaks loose. Songs are layered over songs on this album, and there are so many sounds that blend and change dramatically throughout before eventually returning to where they started.

All this could make the album seem overwhelming, but there is literally a little something for everyone on Torches. Let’s hope Foster the People is here to stay because I definitely wouldn’t mind them providing us with more tunes in the future.

Torches is currently available on iTunes with the bonus track “Broken Jaw,” while Best Buy features a physical CD with the bonus tracks “Love” and “Chin Music for the Unsuspecting Hero.” If you like what you hear on Torches, Foster the People has also released a single EP called Foster the People EP.

For more info on Foster the People:

Official Site