A change is as good as a rest, eh? Sleep Thieves are proof positive of that old chestnut. After a shake-up in personnel, the Dublin electro-pop trio are in more sure-footed territory after a hesitant beginning with 2011's Heart Waves. Their second album undoubtedly draws parallels with acts such as The Knife, especially on the excellent Oceans, where Sorcha Brennan's icy vocals beautifully counter-balance Wayne Fahy's demonic recitations. Glittering synths pierce the grime on the slow-building drift of City of Hearts before Sparks jolts you out of your reverie with a pulsating, cinematic dancefloor filler. All in all, it sounds like Sleep Thieves have put a lot of thought into creating an eerie night-time atmosphere. The result is a fine electronica album with many layers and mysteries to decrypt. sleepthieves.net

Download: Sparks, Oceans