From Quix-22 and Elliot Caps comes a great mashup of Biggie, Tupac and The XX. Pairing "Intro" from The XX, which provides a beautifully smooth build-up and beat, and the continually reinvented poetics of Biggie and Tupac, these two DJ's have created something that's real hard not to get hyped on. When the drums come in on this song, I challenge you to keep your blood pressure at a normal rate. Seriously.
The XX vs Biggie vs Tupac - "Runnin' With The XX" (Quix vs Eliot Blend)
Certainly not Deadmau5, maybe a little more Modest Mouse, it's hard to pin down exactly what Motorcycle Maus sounds like. Especially using bands with some variation of mouse in their name to compare them, of which those are the only two I can think of. Perhaps then, we should stick to the adjectives and hyperbole typical of the music blog. So what comes to mind when you listen to Motorcycle Maus? Melancholic, wreckless, layered, lo-fi, a plethora of intrumentation, avant-garde. Like a rainy day in a coffee shop or your reflection in the bus window. Electronic and acoustic, Motorcycle Maus is that special blend of art rock that many try for, but few pull off with much success. "Fiji Mermaid" arguably the single from their Knockout EP harks on Neutral Milk Hotel or Okkervil River. Getting more electronic on "Dancing With Yr Bloodcells", Motorcycle Maus shows that they can run the gamut musically while still producing enjoyably morose gems. Hailing from Philly, Motorcycle Maus has been motoring around the country on a huge spring tour. They had trouble finding some place to play in Portland, but hopefully we can get these guys back into town soon. In the meantime, find some dysphoric delight on this New Music Tuesday from Motorcycle Maus.
2010 is the year of surf revival. With the rise of bands like Best Coast and Surfer Blood, we're all falling in love again with the simple, lovely, reverb-laden sounds of the ocean. One of the bands whose doing it best is ORCA TEAM. It doesn't hurt that these guys are Portland locals, albeit maybe a little ironic with our utter lack of surfing round these parts. Orca Team is a simple three piece consisting of Leif Anders on bass and vocals, Jessica B. on guitar and Ami Taylor on drums, and it's simplicity that makes these guys great. Old school surf-pop riffs blend with arrangement that lends itself to post-punk sensibilities, so Beach Boys they are not, nor should they be. Oozing bass lines and minor tone vocals groove nicely with the jangly reverberating guitars and punctual rhythm backing. As timeless as a day at the beach, Orca Team is both contemporary and classic. Capable of brightening even the rainiest Portland evening, these guys can rock both bars and basements with ease. Be sure to check them out at the Orca Team headquarters, The Pink Room, with Nucular Animals, Karen., and Stag Bitten on May 7th. We might be lucky enough to see Ander's new project BESTIES as well.
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