Sometimes nostalgia works. On album three from Sydney’s Sneaky Sound System, it works because it’s nostalgia not for a specific era but the entire swath of time before irony dominated music. Thus, From Here to Anywhere is totally straight and earnest, indulging in retro-minded dance-pop from singer Miss Connie and producer Black Angus. Glossy ballads and club jams alike are sculpted with utter precision. Single We Love is kept neatly under three minutes while The Colours compacts the punch of La Roux. By Doug Wallen.

Modular/Universal