FROM the Nordic drawl of Björk to the space age electronica of Kraftwerk there is something strangely captivating about hearing English verse uttered in a foreign brogue. The same cannot be said however for French six-piece Phoenix, back with their sixth album Ti Amo released June 9 on Glassnote Records.

More Julian Casablancas than Serge Gainsbourg, Phoenix have a New York garage rock sound that hasn’t aged a bit since their debut United (2000). With their new ten-track LP frontman Thomas Mars and co have created an incredibly uplifting record.

Album opener J-Boy embraces vibrant synth and keys effects in tandem with choppy guitar and vocals flirting with falsetto. Title track Ti Amo has a floor-filling dance vibe associated with French house, but chugging bass and psychedelic lyricism lifts it into the realm of indie banger. If Ti Amo is an indie banger, Tuttifrutti is just straight-up bubble gum pop. Amid a chorus of oh-ohs, Mars chimes “show me show me show me tears and laughter, don’t hide it hide it hide it.”

Fior Di Latte has a serene melody tinged with the album’s main theme of love and relationships. With an ear-piercing intro ,Lovelife continues the record’s soaring feeling of escapism and infatuation with another as Mars continues to declare despite everything “I love you anyway.”

Saying farewell to the sun, Goodbye Soleil is quite literal in its positioning within the track listing as Ti Amo slightly loses its shine. Becoming dark, deeper and often less cohesive, Phoenix start to stray from the formula.

Fleur De Lys hits all the right buttons, but not in the right order as it fails to have the same impact as its predecessors. Slightly limp and tired sounding, Mars’ lyrics don’t stand out as they do on Ti Amo’s poppier tracks. In an interesting twist, organ is included throughout Role Model; Ti Amo’s longest and one of its best. Booming and vibrating with a funky groove, its energy never abates. Via Veneto harbours similar momentum, shimmering instrumentally over a tirade of emotional and introspective vocals.

Album closer Telefono goes all out with vocal effects, distorted at times, stuttering others and echoing throughout. The rhythm and bass sections are consistentas the track fades out leaving you wondering what is next for Phoenix?What is certain is that the much loved band have risen from their four-year hiatus sounding as fresh as ever and look set to continue to soar in a new direction of synth-pop magnificence.