Earlier this month, New York band Porches released its gloomy new album “Pool.” With just under forty minutes of music, “Pool” is short but sweet.

In an interview with Pitchfork Radio, frontman Aaron Maine said he would like listeners to be able to dance to his new music. Somehow, Porches managed to produce a danceable (at the very least vibe-worthy) record that’s moody and dark.

The most successful aspect of “Pool” is without a doubt its unique instrumentation. Synths throughout are cold, fluid and somewhat reminiscent of classic video games. Instrumental verses in the fifth track, “Hour,” sound as though they were inspired by the soundtrack from “Goldeneye” for Nintendo 64.

Precise use of these strange sounds make “Pool” stand out among contemporaries. To say that the album is trend setting may be too far; it would be awesome, however, to hear other artists explore similar stylistic choices.

Lyrically, “Pool” is a bit surface level. Feelings of depression, anxiety and coping are practically spoon-fed to the listener. Maine’s voice acts more as another instrument, receiving occasional harmonic help from collaborator Frankie Cosmos.

“Be Apart” best demonstrates the vocal abilities of Porches. Pitch changes from high to low hauntingly in the song’s chorus as Maine repeats the line, “I wanna be apart.”

Focus is not lost at any point on “Pool.” Each song seems absolutely necessary to the album. “Car” and “Shape” especially stood out with their catchy choruses and blissful melodies.

Holistically, “Pool” achieves curious depth. The delicate balance of moody content and intriguing synth leave the listener with a different impression upon each listen.

It seems as though Maine is trying to tell us that the glass is half full. “Pool” seems to be a declaration of consciousness. The artist clearly understands his emotions, expressing them with passion and meaning.