Ten years ago, of Montreal released Cherry Peel, a simple and safe but wholly pleasurable pop record. Seven albums (and countless singles, compilations and EPs) later, and all that remains of what was once an innocent, unpolished indie band is the enjoyable quality of its music.

On Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, of Montreal strays even further from its lo-fi Elephant 6 roots and lets the dance pop seedlings shown in The Sunlandic Twins and Satanic Panic in the Attic come into full bloom, synths and drum machines abound. And, not unlike these albums, Hissing Fauna is damn close to Kevin Barnes' solo project, with the hardest working man in indie music writing, recording and producing the whole album almost entirely by his lonesome.

Not that it really makes a difference. If the engaging falsettos and frenetically danceable bass lines don't prove to you that Kevin Barnes knows what he's doing, the five-part harmony on "Gronlandic Edit," with all five parts sung by Barnes, will.

The lyrical style on Hissing Fauna is a departure from past work, relinquishing quirky storytelling for more deeply personal expression. It's an autobiographical work recounting recent experiences in Barnes's life, most notably time spent living in Norway.

In what seems to be an attempt at being more pensive, Barnes's vocals are toned down a bit, which is a shame, because he really has a killer voice.

Barnes has definitely grown up since the band's inception (in the last few years alone, he's had a kid and some marital issues), but of Montreal's allure has always been its childlike innocence.

In this maturation, though, many of the main of Montreal hallmarks are still salient. Barnes isn't afraid of being esoteric, making casual references to Stendhal and Georges Bataille and using words such as "vicissitude" and "perihelion" without worry.

While the lyrical and musical styles have changed dramatically, the contrast between saturnine subject matter and convivial beats is still unmistakable. Even in the chronicling of a man's depression, this is still an of Montreal record, and it will make you dance. What makes Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? so obviously an of Montreal album is that it's genuinely fun.

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is a dance party waiting to happen. Grade: A