Dope Body’s coming, yo!
The press release for the band discourages us from “[comparing] their ferocity to another contender.” Why not? Because when something’s good enough, you don’t need to make comparisons to prove it. So, if you like your punk measured out in raw slabs, if you prefer your squeals scalding, it won’t take an argument or a catalogue of influences to get you on Dope Body’s side. Besides, in this reporter’s meek library, there are some clear precursors to Dope Body, but really nothing quite the same — no contenders, if you will, in the same weight class. Or at least of the same species.
Dope Body are from Baltimore, a city whose rage they seem to have fed right into their mainline. While the big thumping smacks on “Lazy Slave” would likely devolve into a generic hair-flaunting fetish in the hands of less-controlled psychos, these guys keep it interesting throughout. While sampling genres where cliché and mimesis rule, Dope Body mange to innovate atop the very musical vocabulary that makes this kind of stuff so quickly boring for so many listeners. While many bands appear to operate under the false logic that decibels equal distinction, Dope Body prove that sometimes it actually can be true. I’m very, very excited to hear the album in full.
Natural History comes from Drag City on May 22.
• Dope Body: http://dopebody.tumblr.com/
• Drag City: http://www.dragcity.com/artists/dope-body
Humans
“De Ciel”
It’s time to dust off your boogie shoes. On March 6, Vancouver humans Robbie Slade and Peter Ricq, also known as the electro-pop band Humans, are set to put out Traps, their third release and Hybridity Music debut. To alleviate the tension of anticipation, they’ve humanely released a teaser, the EP’s first single “De Ciel” as a free download. Where 2010’s Avec Mes Mecs was full of edgy beats, this cut is more on a soulful disco/old school house tip. Disco Stu likes disco music. Ayyyy…
• Humans: http://dashumans.com
• Hybridity: http://hybriditymusic.com
Mahogany
“Keystone Sonata Arrangement VII”
Philadelphia “massed guitar” ensemble Mahogany have been away for about six years since the release of Connectivity! in 2006. When I reviewed the last proper Stereolab full-length, Chemical Chords, I made a comment about other bands (Mahogany, to be very specific) outdoing them at their own game. Although one might be tempted to call a six-year absence resting on laurels, Mahogany’s first new song from the forthcoming Electric Prisms EP reaches farther out than anything resembling Stereolab. “Keystone Sonata Arrangement VII” does away with the submerged female vocals and replaces them with a prominent male voice (Mahogany’s Andrew Prinz perhaps?). The percussion rides what sounds like an ice bell for the duration of the piece, hitting a warm Appleseed Cast circa Low Level Owl place in my heart, while strings pan back and forth in the stereo field. Someone catch me; I think I just fainted.
• Mahogany: http://twitter.com/MahoganyCity
Knxwledge
Komfi [EP]
Knxwledge has been producing hip-hop beat mixes for years. Prolifically. Just last year, the Philadelphia-based producer released over 10 EPs; this year, he’s already released a full-length LP, Ovrstnd, and this, a new EP titled Komfi. It’s short, sweet, and a few days old, which means it’s about to expire. Listen quickly:
• Knxwledge: http://knxwledge.tumblr.com
• Knxwledge: http://gloof.bandcamp.com
• Knxwledge: https://twitter.com/#!/knxwledge
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