Sometime during the recent ascendancy of dance-punk chic, we veered away from the punk part of the equation. Strategically ripped $60 tees do not punk rock make. Just ask Toronto‘s Controller.Controller. Anchored by singer Nirmala Basnayake‘s commanding presence-which at times reminds of Kristin Hersh or Andrea Zollo of Pretty Girls Make Graves-the quintet melds the staccato rhythmic signature of ‘80s New Wave and disco with the urgent melodic heaviness of golden-era punk and emo. Add a rhythm section tighter than a hipster‘s jeans and some stylish guitar interplay and X-Amounts adds up to compelling dance-punk calculus.