*** THE CRYSTAL METHOD, “Vegas,” City of Angels/Outpost

TCM is not the most inventive act in the dance-music arena, but it is appealing. The Glendale duo works largely in the established, rock-edged break beat forms, with the requisite dialogue samples (including Jesse Jackson on “Keep Hope Alive”) and snyth-squawk hooks. What distinguishes it is the 3D richness of the constructions--the deep beats and crisscrossing overlaid lines form the aural equivalent of industrial sculpture. Even if they don’t do anything, they bear examination.

The pair also pitches two change-ups in “Comin’ Back” and “Jaded,” actual songs with alluring vocals by Trixy Reiss that could be a worthy bridge between the clubs and the radio.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).

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* Excerpts from this album and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: http://stats.nohib.com/soundclips