I suppose it's crass, or at least a bit shallow, to put it this way, but in the universe of American African music groups (as opposed to African American groups, like, say, Bad Brains, or African "American-rock" bands, like, say, BLK JKS), Los Angels' Fool's Gold falls into a sweet spot between Antibalas and Vampire Weekend. Like the former, they are crafting music in a heritage that is not their own, hugely in debt to African music of the 70s, but Fool's Gold draws from a broad palette, including soukous, East African, Ethiopian jazz, and newer artists like Tinariwen and the whole Toureg blues sound as well. And like the latter, Fool's Gold have a deeply ingrained love of pop music, including "multi-cultural" groups like Talking Heads, and they craft joyful sunshine pop from the ingredients of international soul music.

Fool's Gold seem to have begun as somewhat of a lark, an exuberant way for some talented musicians (and record collectors) to explore the sounds of music they love. Led by Luke Top, and Lewis Pesacov of L.A.'s indie-anthem kings Foreign Born, joined by a rotating cast including the rest of Foreign Born, and sometime members of other decidedly modern, western groups like We Are Scientists and the Fall, Fool's Gold claim to have started as a loose party band, and their sound seems to affirm that. The songs sprawl and swell, easing in hallucinogenic guitar swirls and haunting harmonics with such laidback joy, it's near impossible not to groove along, and they also take advantage of their member's long musical pedigree, with lush arrangements and complex rhythms that sound effortless. Add to this Top's beguiling singing, at least half in his native Hebrew (Top was born in Israel, and there is the subtle influence of Israeli harmonies and sounds throughout), and you get a powerful, invigorating sound that is deeper than expected, and remarkably satisfying. [JM]