Bold colors and subtle shades blend in compelling ways on Man Without Country’s sophomore album, united by the Welsh duo’s fondness for both pop craftsmanship and synth-based atmospherics. Maximum Entropy shifts from the seething menace of “Claymation” to the ethereal longing of “Oil Spill” and the sprightly bounce of “Romanek” with a teasing detachment than can’t quite hide the emotional fires blazing within. White Sea’s expansive vocals on the darkly percolating “Laws of Motion” are a passionate high point. Grandly conceived and frequently mesmerizing, Maximum Entropy is a major advance for MWC.