MATTHEW DEAR, SMALL BLACK, CLASS ACTRESS, YOUNG PRISMS
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) In the 10 years since he co-founded the all-important Ghostly International imprint, Matthew Dear has stayed far ahead of the musical curve. His 2003 debut album Leave Luck to Heaven offered a fresh perspective on minimal house before the about-to-get-super-boring genre was even due for a wake-up call. Under the Audion alias, he combined obnoxious techno with seizure-inducing imagery, mocking warehouse rave music in the most flattering way. More recently, Dear has departed from straight-ahead dance music for more meditative fare created by an actual band with instruments. You still hear hints of his earlier work in the newly released Black City, but the album explores a new and shadowy atmosphere that truly escapes definition. Though he's constantly experimenting with sounds and reshaping his ideas, Dear always succeeds in presenting highly refined concepts that feel salient and fun at the same time. AVA HEGEDUS Also see My, What a Busy Week!
TRANS AM, NICE NICE, JONAS REINHARDT
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!
COLOUR REVOLT, PRIORY
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Colour Revolt released a terrific debut full-length in 2008 with Plunder, Beg and Curse, and now the Mississippi band has returned with The Cradle. The band lineup has changed dramatically, but the ragged voice of frontman Jesse Coppenbarger still leads the pack. Some of the propulsive, angry energy of Plunder has mellowed and matured, a little surprising when you consider how many hard knocks the band has suffered the past couple years—dropped by their label Fat Possum, and having more than half the band go their separate ways. But The Cradle still has moments of tightly wound rock, a fiery, post-emo sound that betrays little in the way of Southern swamp, despite the band's Mississippi home. If you bought your ticket to this show in advance, show your ticket stub at the merch table, and you'll get a free download of The Cradle. NL
The complete show listings can be viewed here.