Performing at an art gallery seems like an ideal venue for Charlemagne. The spacey, indie-pop band's second album "Detour Allure" is full of thoughtful lyrics, soothing pop melodies and calm vocals. The band will be playing at (SCENE) Metrospace on Friday.

Charlemagne is Carl Johns. He writes the songs, sings, plays the guitar and is co-producer of the album. Johns brought in five others to help him create more of a full band sound on "Detour Allure."

The album opens with a folksy pop song, a little reminiscent of quieter Death Cab for Cutie. The next track, "Pink and Silver," is an extremely catchy '80s sugary-pop song with lyrics such as "chocolate covered cherries/scary, scary berries."

"Nematode" brings in female vocals for an even more ethereal sound. The drawn-out vocals work well with the song's slow-paced rhythm.

One of the best songs is "Your Scars." It has a jangly beat with a very folksy melody and slight twang. Johns and the female singer harmonize perfectly on this track.

Many bands are simultaneously using male and female singers right now, but Charlemagne doesn't overwhelm or exhaust the concept. It's well done throughout the whole album and only included when both vocals add to the song.

Johns plays the triangle in "In the Fuselage," which offers a nice change from the now-norm cowbell. The triangle puts in perfect little 'pings' at the right moments to add charm to the song.

Another great song is "Fave Unknown." The song has clear Beach Boys influence with its flawless harmonizing and melodies. It also brings in a little psychedelic pop and has a fun beat.

Catchy melodies, hooks, hand claps, keyboards, soft drums and clever lyrics make "Detour Allure" an instant pleaser. This is a solid pop album that is perfect for long drives and calming background music for studying or laid-back get-togethers.