On their debut album, Kicking the National Habit, London duo Grand National unveil an interesting twist on indie pop. Their sound suggests yacht-rockers under the influence of the kind of midtempo skank Sting and the Police perfected in their early days. A distinctly English ambivalence lurks within songs such as “Drink to Moving On,” “Playing in the Distance,” and “Boner,” while “Daylight Goes” and “North Sound Off” suggest happier resolutions. Reaching for “a strange magnificent noise,” the two make something nearly as good, and something that suggests fine things to come. Nods toward the UK’s post-dance culture lend an enticing flexibility to the whole project. That gives Grand National plenty of room to maneuver; their next moves will be worth following.