[Uncanny Valley]

Dresden’s quietly brilliant dealers of quirky house drop one of their catchiest and most straight-up appealing collections courtesy of Sandrow M. Here, the Dresden local has to some degree slid away from that chemically tranquilized wooziness of his earlier Uncanny Valley-released tracks such as “The Three Trees” or “Friction” with Jacob Korn — often a hallmark of the label’s output overall. Instead, while we are still treated sometimes to that shimmering, extraterrestrial synthesizer wash, this colorful and emotive four-track favors grinning, accessible tune-craft, and a bright, clear directness.

“Prayervan” is a bittersweet and earworming mix of camp talkbox vocals and yearning pads behind a simple beat. A backdrop of brassy, curling notes melds the arrangement into a pleasingly harmonized and addictive song. It’s a powerfully moody composition with nods to classic synth-pop as much as classic Chicago house. “Facerunner” withdraws to a dingier, more head-down groove. It’s the most overtly bass-driven and dance-floor-directed track here, but doesn’t particularly stick in the mind compared to other, similarly toned tracks from the label.

On the flip, the instantly catchy “Gonna Make” really shines, again displaying a knack for shamelessly sentimental and overpoweringly simple harmonies. A plump and fiddly kick-and-snap rhythm of electro drums supplies the grit necessary to undercut the rushing melodic nostalgia. The track’s electro-funk DNA is joyously revealed as the beat falls away to make room for a glinting neon keyboard solo that will guarantee a smiling dance floor — pure pleasure. Sandrow M’s obvious enjoyment of 80s dance and pop influences endures till the record ends, with “Schnaubi” scattering vintage drum-machine breaks over layers of cheeky funk noodling, and those earnest, sun-blushed chords, in a long, tantalizing build-up and fade-out.