Wet Confetti's first widespread exposure came about last year via the Portland edition of Brendan Canty's Burn To Shine DVD series. Amongst the played-out (The Decemberists), the tired (Sleater-Kinney), and the unfitting (Lifesavas), the explosive trio of Wet Confetti brought just enough energy, creativity and originality to fit the spot just right.

The female-male-male formation recently released their second full-length album in Laughing Gasping to similar effect with their well-calibrated intensity and creative capabilities. On one hand, the band doesn't beat you over the head with pretensions of achievement or belonging; on the other, they are self-confident and have their own prescribed sense of style.

In lead singer/bassist Alberta Poon the band is fronted with a strong female voice. Poon's bass playing is solid, but neither great nor horrible enough to be dwelled upon. Wet Confetti diverges from the rest of the indie rock pack through guitar and keyboard effects that, along with the drums, dance across the genre with the zeal of excited children rapt with a new discovery.

Laughing Gasping has the uncultured edge of underground post-punk, and the attractiveness and electronic fringe of dance rock, but can't truly be classified under either guise. This unique cross section of style was enough to catch the interest of Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen, who produced the album alongside former Shriekback member Mike Cozzi. While the sophomore effort of Wet Confetti will not wring through the history halls of indie music with the same reverberation of either GO4 or Shriekback, Laughing Gasping is a good defining record for a band that has both familiarity and potential on their side.