Not many modern-day Italian rock groups gather the momentum and master the variables necessary to tour North America, so when one does, it usually indicates a high level of interestingness. Such is the case with the psych-rock group New Candys, who have been creating compelling, Anglo-American-friendly rock for 12 years. Singing in English and led by guitarist/sitarist/vocalist Fernando Nuti, the four-piece unit did an in-studio performance at KEXP in 2018 in which they radiated steely cool in black leather and black denim jackets, coming off like a better-looking early-'90s Jesus And Mary Chain. New Candys were in Seattle that year for Seagaze Fest, but they are not your archetypal shoegaze band. They're actually more of a psychedelic band whose music likely won't transport you to another dimension or induce hallucinations. Rather, their tight, melodic songs fire your neurons with familiar fusillades of guitar snarls (shout out to lead axe-meister Andrea Volpato), vocal sneers, and propulsive drumming from Dario Lucchesi, serving as well-made distractions from your daily worries. You've heard this sort of thing before, but probably not from Italians with bone structure this excellent. A friend of mine with good taste who attends music shows on a nearly nightly basis recently saw New Candys and raved about them, so there's more validation for you. DAVE SEGAL