Soul drowned out by sound

The New Pornographers

“Twin Cinema” (Matador)

* * 1/2

THIS is power-pop to the nth power, standing out from the pack like an M.C. Escher maze in a world of scrawls and doodles. On its third album, the Canadian band exerts a ridiculous command of the form, delivering a spectorgasmic rush of energy and action.

Hooks abound. Textures shimmer and dissolve. Key changes and tempo shifts create a roller-coaster sensation. This ingenuity affirms the preeminence of leader A.C. Newman and his chosen collaborators in this enduring subgenre. So why is it often unsatisfying?

The best power-pop, from the Raspberries and Cheap Trick to Matthew Sweet and Nick Lowe, has used those hooks and rhythms to capture genuine feelings -- usually yearning and euphoria, exuberance and wistfulness.

Lacking a central, prominent voice, “Twin Cinema” is frequently the schematics without the soul, a formal tour de force with bravado to spare but not a lot of inner life. When they slow down and showcase an emotional vocal, as in the Neko Case-fronted “These Are the Fables,” there’s a person as well as power in the pop. Heart beats hooks every time. If you can have both, all the better.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent), and have already been released unless noted.