Tahiti 80 – Activity Center (Barclay) How Tahiti 80 have avoided becoming a household name in the UK is inexplicable. Well… actually, it’s not. UK listeners have always been a bit sniffy about French pop, but it’s not as if they’ve been making it difficult for Brits. They sing in faultless English, write perfect pop songs and wrap them up in beautifully produced arrangements. Their latest, Activity Center, does all that and more. Opening cut “24x7 Boy” provides the perfect start. Indie pop with a beating heart, hooks aplenty, and a spirit of joy and fun saturates the mood. It’s the first of many highlights. “Unpredictable” follows with its wonderfully catchy chorus and “Brazil” raises the temperature with new wave guitars and melodic rapidity. With the snow on its way back, Activity Center might just be the first sign of spring. www.myspace.com/tahiti80 Rob F. Next