Pitchfork

Nothing, and I mean nothing, warms the cockles of my heart like ominous, tribal, droning, post-punk abstraction. OK, a video illustrating the joyous energy all the tom-tom pounding and shrill noise-making can generate in a live setting actually does enhance the experience. The clip for These Are Powers' "Cockles", from the Brooklyn band's soon-to-be-reissued 2008 Taro Tarot EP, starts casually, with some live pre-song chatter and footage of fans with glow sticks. From there it's a rapidly edited compilation of shots from several of the band's raw-and-ready small-venue shows. Lead vocalist Anna Barie grins beatifically, closing her eyes as she bangs on a tambourine or sings, "It's all in your heart." Thus warming the cockles of said organ, regardless of your tolerance for "ghost-punk" or other made-up genres.

[from the Taro Tarot EP; out now on Hoss and due as a reissue 10/07/08 on Dead Oceans]