The self-titled debut release from Maximum Balloon, the artist better known as TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, plays out much like a TVOTR record albeit with a slightly different cast of characters. Bandmates Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone are along for part of the ride and joined by the likes of Theophilus London, Holly Miranda, and Little Dragon. The synthy dancefloor funk of “Groove Me” gets things ignited and segues well into the horn-inflected, multi-tiered ambience of “Young Love.” “Absence of Light” (featuring Adebimpe) and “Shake Down” (featuring Malone) are classic, uptempo TVOTR tracks that tie the record together well.

The back-and-forth dynamic of male to female vocalists is also paramount to the album’s continuity. Karen O’s silky vocals carry the airy “Communion” and the beautiful crooning of Holly Miranda sits gently atop the downtempo drums of “The Lesson.” The explosive lead single “Tiger,” which features a serpentine feline chasing people through an endless sea of balloons in the excellent music video, is Sitek letting loose all the tools in his vast arsenal. The track leaps out of the frame thanks to the vocal stylings of Aku, whose delivery bears an uncanny resemblance to Adebimpe.

The multi-instrumentalist Sitek has carved out his niche over years of working with his group and diverse artists such as Liars, Scarlett Johannson and Aziz Ansari (on the upcoming RAAAAAAAANDY mixtape). At the end of the day Maximum Balloon is not a great departure from the TV on the Radio sound. And it’s hard to say that’s a bad thing. Aside from the dull Talking Heads nostalgia of “Apartment Wresting,” the album is dense and dancey and catchy as all hell, as one has come to expect from Dave Sitek.

Song you’ll remember in five years: “Tiger”

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