XXL’s largely instrumental fourth album, Puff O’Gigio, is a clash of experimental tics and post-punk throb, pulling the outlandish tendencies of both bands into vivid widescreen frames.

According to Topo Gigio’s account, one day in 1959 a recording by the singer Domenico Modugno was played at fast-forward speed, and Ms. Perego exclaimed, “This is the voice of a little mouse!” ...

His name, Topo Gigio, was Italian for Louie Mouse, and during his dozens of appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the 1960s and early ’70s, he seemed, indeed, to be a cartoon mouse sprung ...