Anxious synths and a solid beat make up the spacious, simple sound of “Commando of Love,” the new single from French-punks, The Anals. Released on Vacouver, CA imprint Sweet Rot in late June, “Commando” does more with less, employing guitars, synths, drums, and vocals that are all set to attack. Raw and abrasive, growling trance-like drones expand to mesh with agressive drumming and a lyrical delivery that invokes a sense of urgency.

The 7” marks the first (and only?) record from the Metz, France duo who state they’re “here to beat girls and boys with love and passion.” Further information on the band is slim at best, and my French is about as good as that new Hold Steady record, but the label states that half of the band passed away in late 2007 and “The Anals are done.” It’s a fucking great first/last single if that’s the case. Grab the mp3 below and head over to the label’s site to buy the vinyl, which is wrapped in some killer cover art.

[MP3]: The Anals  ”Commando Of Love”
Commando Of Love 7″, Sweet Rot; 2008

Like the seven blonde adventuresome heroines from which they borrow their moniker, Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls have moxie. The all female, Henry Darger-inspired trio packs abrasive power and infectious harmonies that recall groups like The Raincoats and B-52’s. The lo-fi single, “Tell the World (Woodsist Records),” unites reverby vocal harmonies with buzzing garage riffs and a hurry-up rhythm. Floating above the trudging punk beat and thick bassline, the infectious group-sung vocal harmonies provide welcoming warmth in an otherwise dissonant atmosphere. Vivian Girls manage to straddle the line between catchy and abrasive and do it without compromising either side, making their debut self-titled LP (early May on Mauled by Tigers) one worth anticipating.

Vivian Girls kick off an extensive US spring tour starting May 12th. Until then, the trio has five local shows scheduled in New York, including one this Wednesday, April 30th, at Lit Lounge. The group’s self-recorded 7” “Tell the World” single will also be available in May via Woodsist Records in limited edition (500 copies only) black vinyl. Full tour dates, songs, and more at MySpace.

[MP3]: Vivian Girls  ”Tell the World”
Vivian Girls, Mauled by Tigers; May 2008

Baltimore electropunk duo, The Death Set, are ready to drop their debut record, Worldwide, on April 22nd via Ninjatune. Of the eighteen tracks on the record, not a single one tops 2:24, with the whole thing clocking in at about twenty-five minutes. Worldwide blends lo-fi electronica with frenzied punk and hardcore. Abrasive rhythms, group chants, catchy vocal melodies, overdriven keyboards, and frantic guitars are packed into short, energetic, and addicting songs perfect for the ADHD in all of us.

The Death Set kick off the first leg of their tour tonight in Aberdeen, UK before coming back to the States on April 16th to tear it up at Bard College in New York. The band supports Bonde Do Role on the second leg of the tour beginning on April 28th with stops in Philly on May 13th at Johnny Brenda’s and New York City on May 14th and 15th at Europa and The Bowery Ballroom. Pre-order Worldwide here and grab “Around the World” below.

[MP3]: The Death Set  ”Around The World”
Worldwide, Ninjatune; 2008

Artefacts For Space Travel are a young dystopian three piece from South London consisting of Joseph Walsh, Sam Walsh, and Alex Griffiths. The trio plays a loud and energy packed mix of punk and apocalyptic pop. Themes of the group’s songs are centered on death, childhood, the cosmos, romance, and a dystopian future. Songs bend from noisy and growling psychedelia to panic stricken punk packed full of modern and haunting melodies.

I’ve had “Recoop,” the b-side of the band’s single “Lucy” on repeat for the last week or so, sucked in by the catchy chorus line sung by guitarist Joe Walsh; “recoup because you’re so young”. It’s funny that I discovered the track (and band) around this time, because it’s perfectly fitting for my dad, who’s currently recouping from a busted up arm. The poor guy took a nasty fall about two weeks ago and not only broke his radius in half, but also dislocated his ulna from his wrist sending it tearing three-inches out of his skin. The image accompanying this post is the actual x-ray from his left arm about two hours after the accident took place. Awesome! Here’s to “recooping” dad and also providing some rad “exclusive” content for the site. Ha! Try not to bust yourself up any more and make sure to get your ass to physical therapy!

Artefacts For Space Travel embark on the “Stolen Tour” in the UK on April 8th followed by an appearance at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton and more local shows in June. “Lucy” is out now on Stolen Recordings and available for download. More info on the band’s MySpace page.

[MP3]: Artefacts For Space Travel  ”Recoop”
Lucy Single, Stolen Recordings; 2008

GET HYPE! Crystal Castles, HEALTH, Team Robespierre, and Apache Beat are primed to mess with your ears tonight at the Mercury Lounge for our SOLD OUT installment of FRICTION. Crystal Castles bring their distorted electro all the way from Toronto, while HEALTH’s blasts of noise mess with your head, this of course, after locals Team Robespierre and Apache Beat freak you out with their spazzed-out pop-screamo and tropical psychedelia. Dayton Ohio’s, Ruckus Roboticus will be spinning his own tracks between sets. Afterparty to follow at The Annex.

Doors open @ 7:30PM. MP3′s, full details, and more. Here

Crystal Castles cover photo © Ren Rox 2007
Crystal Castles (above) © Patrick Parault 2007

I was instantly into the sound of London-based electro outfit, Battant, after hearing their single “Kevin (1989).” The convulsive punky/new wave-inspired track was written by lead-singer Chloé based on the diary entries of a dude named Kevin. Not exactly sure what she found in the diary, but to come up with killer lines such as “he fucked the eggs out of her, that stupid cock-tease whore,” it had to be pretty juicy. The Undertones, well, undertones, a jagged Joy Division “Transmission” influenced guitar line toward the end of the song, and catchy vocals have peaked my interest in this quartet.

Further digging led me to the video of the single “Jump Up” and an Andrew Weatherall remixed b-side to “Kevin (1989).” Check it.

[MP3]: Battant  ”Kevin (1989)”
Single, Kill The DJ; 2007

I first stumbled across Los Angeles tropical punk outfit, Abe Vigoda, while checking out Brooklyn faves High Places’ West Coast tour dates. I was initially intrigued by the quartet’s peculiar moniker, taken from the “late” Abe Vigoda, the American actor who’s been “reported dead as many times as he’s been reported alive.” However quirky the name, it soon became irrelevant after soaking up the group’s recorded material and checking out some of their live vids.

Abe Vigoda comes from the same experimental downtown LA scene as bands like No Age, Mika Miko, Health, Mae Shi, and Barr, which is centered around the infamous all-ages venue, The Smell. Abe Vigoda dishes out quick and catchy island dance music, where Caribbean melodies and conga beats meet speedily strummed no wave guitars and molesting walls of noise. Their songs thrash and bounce at the same time and have been described as “a cross between Captain Beefheart and Crass” by No Age guitarist Randy Randall. Think of High Places on speed with thrashing guitars and you have Abe Vigoda, well, something like that at least.

Check out “Animal Ghosts” below and head over to RCRD LBL to get a taste of the group’s new track from their forthcoming record, “Dead City/Waste Wilderness.” Given the weather here in the Northeast for the last few days (dull grey skies), these two tracks are a blast of warm and colorful tropical island air.

[MP3]: Abe Vigoda  ”Animal Ghosts”