*** VAST, “Music for People,” Elektra.

The music of VAST is both absolutely modern and like a sound out of time. Mastermind Jon Crosby crafts dark, haunted pop that reflects the influence of such ‘80s antiheroes as Depeche Mode and the newer likes of Radiohead. “What Else Do I Need” blends the electronic with stirring acoustic passages. Crosby’s search for the exotic even had VAST recording parts of its second album with an orchestra in Bombay. If not all the melodies are strong enough to be memorable, the underlying vision remains bold and inventive. VAST plays at the Roxy on Oct. 26.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.