From the easy Smithsy jangle “The Dive,” the latest from L.A.’s Fool’s Gold lets its listeners know this won’t be a repeat affair of the group’s afro-pop-loving debut but rather a crystallization of the sound they’ve worked on, touring for years and developing into an excellent indie pop band informed by worldbeat but not shackled by it. Leave No Trace runs its fingers along a spinning globe and across a pop-song timeline, but it never sounds forced; rather, each of them album’s 10 songs packs headspinning detail into an easily digestible format. Dynamite single-worthy jams like “Window Worthy” work up clap-along dance beats dressed with flourishes like flutes here, disco synths there and lush, soulful choruses everywhere.

Also available on CD.


Free download of "Street Clothes" by Fool's Gold.