“Micachu and the Shapes, an English trio of music-school renegades . . . writes songs that are terse, choppy, swinging and startling. Calliope tones, synthesizer buzzes and blunt lyrics . . . jagged and abrasive but proudly feisty.” —New York Times
The leader of Micachu and the Shapes is Mica Levi, a 22-year-old, brilliant, style-smashing Brit. She writes sweetly disjointed pop, has composed for the London Philharmonic, and to her ears everything is fair game—streaming distorted loops, skiffle riffs, and grime beats through hooky hyperkinetic arrangements. Pitchfork calls the group “the freshest thing to come along so far in 2009.” Dessa of Doomtree introduces a new band featuring Josh Peterson on electric guitar, Sean McPherson on acoustic bass, and Brynn Vice on violin. The spare, melodic arrangements offer a rare and intimate take on Dessa’s melancholy lyrics and the expert musicianship of some of Minneapolis’ finest players.
