Bionica’s debut EP, Take Your City, is a half-hour of swirling, frenetic electropop. After the first four measured chords from the Rhodes, it’s a non-stop train of rapidly ticking hi-hats, meandering synthesizers, and jingling bells—enough to get anyone’s heart rate up.

Bionica, the electronic experiment of James Westfall and four other young local musicians more often found in the jazz clubs than on the indie circuit, offer five tight jams in their debut effort. Drawing on the skills honed in their jazz careers, the band takes a virtuosic approach to electronic instruments (keytar, anyone?) rather than the usual acoustic instruments. The result is a series of layered, digital soundscapes dominated by extended instrumental breaks featuring chirping and warbling synth solos.

The two acoustic components, however, are very much of note. Sasha Masakowski (of Nova Nola) provides the human face to the quintet with her gorgeous vocals. The lyrics are often diffcult to decipher in the mix, giving her voice an instrumental quality.

As Masakowski’s vocals fitter above the other instruments, Nick Solnick’s insatiable beats on the drum kit offer a frenzied feel on most tracks. While synths and samples may slow down and fade out, the frantic ticking of the hi-hat colors this release more than anything else.

Though the EP clocks in at just under a half-hour, the extreme drum tempos and insistent synth solos make it hard to feel like you haven’t been rushed through the record. You may feel out of breath by the end, but you’ll be well worked-out musically. Bionica has given its city a charming, cool and upbeat record.