Pitchfork

The DFA just signed Shocking Pinks, aka ex-Brunettes drummer Nick Harte. Now they're giving him away. The label is currently streaming the first four singles from Shocking Pinks upcoming compilation, shockingly titled Shocking Pinks, plus the first four B-sides. These eight tracks (hey math fans) cover enough ground to span from Harte's New Zealand base to Pitchfork HQ, though almost all are full of fragile romance.

For starters, there's the woozy new wave of "This Aching Deal", the sonar bleeps that fade into isolated piano plinks on "August 3rd (Arkitype remix)", and the plangent electro-punk of "Victims". Both "April/May" and "The Narrator" settle down for electronics-enhanced twee pop akin to Sarah Records acts like the Field Mice. Finally, "Dressed to Please" leans more toward languid atmospherics, led by a ghostly, Cocteau Twins-like vocalese, while "Smokescreen (The Glimmers remix)" gets back to Shocking Pinks' clattering dance-punk roots from a darker electro angle. More cowbell, etc.

Stream:> Shocking Pinks: Various Tracks

[from Shocking Pinks; due 09/25/07 on DFA/Astralwerks]