Bocce — Hi Birdbear/Can't Reason Do It?

Hi Birdbear/Can't Reason Do It? is a mushroom cloud explosion of keyboards, omnichord and drums. Think Ratatat plus two members and piles of keys and energy, rolled in pop rocks with sparklers coming out of their ears. This is music that will increase your heart rate and expand your concept of electronic music. From the moment opening track "Ping Pong Pixel" fades in with its dramatic tornado of organs, this EP of new songs and remixes doesn't let up. Because of the live drumming, ghosts of Shout Out Out Out Out percussion float by, but that's soon forgotten when Bocce's soul-punk vocals come into play on the computerized rock of "Disco Juan." The new songs are big and noisy with layers of synths and percussion, but Birdbear has quiet moments, notably the conclusion of "Augustin St.," a horn-filled dance song that features a choir. The three remixes are a suitably sparse bonus to this astounding collection.