There are times when I walk into a show and know its going to be exciting. Something is in the air, some intangible magic pulling people together, forcing smiles onto their faces. We arrived to see the XX at the Tribeca Grand in the rain, half-expecting to sit outside in one of those “hotel-venue-lines.” It wasn’t to be, we were quickly ushered in and made our way to the basement. A sharply appointed, mysterious and darkened room, this wasn’t what I was expected. To me CMJ has become synonymous with grimy clubs, free shows in odd venues and venues with charmingly rough edges. A few people had already gathered on the dancefloor and more than a few were already staking out their stage spots, 4 hours early!

The DJs played a refreshing mix of new-wave, 90s house and techno re-rubs and proceeded to destroy the dancefloor. I’d been bored by the DJ format for sometime. The music seems stale and the performance completely predictable, but for record after record last night I was surprised and my butt was moved.

The XX arrived, sound-checked while the DJs were still playing (my condolences to the sound guy and the band.) Unfortunately, all the magic the DJs and crowd had built evaporated with the first note. Someone decided not to use the hefty sound system the DJs had been playing through all night, and now instead of being surrounded by the XX’s luscious guitars and grainy, haunting vocals, the crowd strained to hear. Death by sound system, I tried to pay attention, but the din of conversation in the room was louder than the music. That said, I could tell the band had something special and I will be back for another show.

I’m switching paces here (and tenses, sorry,) but I want to make my point as I see it and hear it now. Their music is delicate and intimate, and I know seeing them under different circumstances those qualities will pull me in and serenade.

Also, big shout out to Myles from Sneak Attack Media for turning me on to the XX in the first place, and for letting us know about the show. He’s the man for sure. Here’s my favorite for the moment, and buy link (please support the artists):

the XX – Shelter

the XX – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)

For more on CMJ and POSR’s perspective on the conference check out Wilson’s first day write-up on weareposr.com

Two times a lady and more than a woman. That innocuous sweetheart who lives next door and eats her vegetables with a prison shank she carved out of a thundercloud.

Using a shark’s tooth as a pen, her writing is a comfortable balance of the dizzying contrasts of originality and detail. With a voice that’s versatile and mellifluous, there isn’t a beat, melody or style she won’t make her bitch.

Existentialism is the train she rides. Hop on and she’ll take you around the block a few times, then with a sharp left BAM!!! you’re in the pink palace that is her perseity.

For more information visit Shina Rae’s MySpace profile.

In a book of photos put together after the band’s debut record was finished, Honey Claws member Traey Hatch wrote a hyper-excited, love-filled intro saying, “Ninjas. Pimps. Crash Cymbals. Couch trips. Bus rides. A hot studio. Yelling, screaming, laughing. Too much beer, too little sleep. Overtime, overworked, overcoming adversity. Racquetball, running and Honey, claws that is. Hyena Scowl, yeah clowns, that’s right. Fuck it, we had fun and made some killer music!”

And therein lies the essence of the Austin-based band’s self-titled debut record. Its 14 tracks are based on that brand of playful, creative, wild-eyed, stream-of-consciousness energy. Multi-instrumentalists every one, the four-piece group moves through 49 minutes of innovative experimental hip-hop psychedelia that’s equal parts Panda Bear as it is Madlib.

The record is, at its very heart, an electronic animal, and when its heart beats you feel the floor shaking from sixty-six blocks away. Sexed-up beats pulse thick with electro bass while a whole pile of robotic trippiness blankets the sound in a way that recalls likeminded souls Daft Punk, Odelay-era Beck, and Kraftwerk. Still, the sound is all their own. Without Honey Claws there would be no Honey Claws music. Without Honey Claws music there would be no Honey Claws. It is a unique and new creature unto itself. American musical evolution incarnate.

According to a 3hive.com write-up, “Honey Claws is just the sort of thing I’d hope to run into at 1 am, my feet weary from the walking, my head hurting from all the rocking, but these grooves would buoy me up for another couple hours.”

Put on Honey Claws’ debut and consider yourself buoyed. Band-mates Thomas Sahs, Ben Wah, and Traey Hatch lay down the tapestry of summer love trip-out jam funk while Jon Von Letscher drops beats alongside his half-lovelorn/half-crunked-up rhymes with all the power of the Oxford English Dictionary dosed up on E.

Here’s your invitation to the sickest party of the summer.

Honey Claws – Healer EP

Four track CD

Retail price: $9

.

PURCHASE

.

Order CD for $9

BUY ON ITUNES

Lightning Kill Eye by Honey Claws (Healer EP)

in a loud imperfect place i feel as though this day is moving right
when the lightning kills my eyes i will have one though burning inside
lets love the war is done a funner way a funner way to carry on
lets feel lets real the fake and take apart this tension we all cause

im a noun im a simple thing so it complicated when shot up with advice
when the buildings fall apart i sure do hope this crazy world will dance
lets love the british came a funner way a funner way to go out
lets heal lets steal the wasted sunny space that noones resting in

©2008 Von Letscher, Hatch, Senior, Sahs / Tierra Music Publishing

Pemporer by Honey Claws (Healer EP)

party happening down the street
see the night on our own
I got a feeling to
this is the start of you
one event on to two
hear the chime beating dry
i am the same as who
stepped on a covered mine

inside of you all of everything moves

party happening down the street
speed of light equals blind
i’ve got a name for you
i’ve come to free your fright
holes in the obsolete
scent of wine bathing high
i am the same as you
i have a skulled in mind

i polished emperor’s and all of the lonely people are faced with a view
slide from the pretense and taste the world you never knew
out beyond the reach of hunters ceiling on a plane with god
assorted paintings bright white escaping flood
the willing invited

©2008 Von Letscher, Hatch, Senior, Sahs / Tierra Music Publishing

Beat of the Wet Eve by Honey Claws (Healer EP)

its hard to rest the nights oozing loudly i feel deprived of love
building foam
so tan overground with wrinkles around each eye growing thicker and
thicker they’re vines
I once knew to jump on the tempo moistening the beat of the wet eve

Light blue Light blue now headaches are wrapped in water
too much to burn to much to set fire
holy was the site one comma one door up
hoes in the bed with painted white oranges
holes in the attic wood-floors with noises
voice hope aesthetic no bruising no choices

Like who like who was there robbing death of harmour
sewn a shield of pain the truth at stake nada
know beyond the slate big lightning big thunder
omen rapes wonder so its still none ya
wooley isn’t me we have the same birthday
where we were the rains were amping up surf days
thoughts begun to race now amen in biplanes
oh well the well is deep and shells unstained

out beyond a reason at one with some
chosen to stretch expand so what of it

©2008 Von Letscher, Hatch, Senior, Sahs / Tierra Music Publishing

Orange Kitty Stamp by Honey Claws (Healer EP)

choose a constellation rise and float
climb through the air on the air colored rope
weighty on stoppy raising up
myself and myself and myself in the jump
all their music is nothing
a rope-less puppet a solo Indian’s down the hall speaking russian
tan as a motherfucker and shot a couple and the couple was a proud
wicked double

slow down lets evaporate out here what’s another day

brother bear came back
took a swing for my drastic acts on crack
now i never knew what to do
committing suicide at a 102
true i think what i wouldn’t do
what a would’ve done if i wasn’t me to
and who i should’ve been with
a flamethrower ballerina working the night shift

Homo…sapien deer with antlers
that motherfucker better fork some answers
protect em jessie i asked you sooner
than i would’ve done had i known a little sooner
invented the computer but broke my wrists
kicked by the sister mary hypnotist
here today regardless though the pay is nauseous
grace of the odds and the gods of harvest

©2008 Von Letscher, Hatch, Senior, Sahs / Tierra Music Publishing

Tierra Records and Tierra Music Publishing announced today it has signed producer Jake Child’s new electro-punk project POSR. POSR brings together Jakes’ considerable production experience and his goal of creating a complete artist identity. Production and mastering will commence immediately with the goal of releasing POSR, in the US, in late September. POSR is currently finishing the mixes on a number of songs before final mastering. Pre-release and press copies are scheduled to be out late-June. PR team, radio promotional team and street marketing partners will be announced along with pre-release copies of the record.

About Tierra Records and Tierra Music Publishing Tierra Records and Music Publishing are sister companies to Tierra Studios. Tierra Records and Music Publishing began with the desire to help local musicians obtain professional representation and promotion for their recording projects. Tierra is proud to work with the Houston and Austin music communities to expose the world to Texas’ top talents.

Honey Claws – Honey Claws

14 Tracks CD

Retail Price: $15.00

File under: Electronic

.

PURCHASE

.

Buy CD for $15

BUY ON ITUNES