Supporting Acts: Future of What Takka Takka Minimalism and math-rock, Africa and Indonesia, funk and folk and psychedelia, often over beats that sound like rock anthems burnished smooth by the notes pelting above.” “Despite some earthbound moments most of the music is rock as meditation, with orderly repetition trying to keep the deepest fears at bay.” — Jon Pareles, The New York Times In the four years since the release of their critically acclaimed Migration, Takka Takka have embarked on tours of the US, Canada, and Europe. But that’s only part of the story. Frontman Gabe Levine released a highly regarded LP under his Gabriel and the Hounds moniker, while drummer Conrad Doucette contributed live percussion to The National, appearing on Late Show With David Letterman and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and performed with the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir for Headcount’s awareness-raising The Bridge Session broadcast. He also joined Gabriel and the Hounds for tours in the US (opening for Beirut) as well as the UK. Amid all of the projects and pursuits, a new Takka Takka album was made. This time around, longtime Takka Takka members Gabe Levine (vocals, guitars, keyboards) and Conrad Doucette (drums and percussion) were joined by Craig Montoro (bass, vocals, trumpet), a native Texan whose resume includes performing on Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois album and tour. The album is both a logical next step beyond Migration as well as a realization of the band’s songwriting and recording ambitions. , A.M. Landscapes was recorded at Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn and produced by Phil Palazzolo (New Pornographers, Okkervil River) and features performances by Rene Planchon (lead guitars), Palazzolo (guitars), and The National’s Bryan Devendorf (contributing, as he did on Migration, auxiliary percussion). The LP also features Michael P. Atkinson, who worked with Levine to produce imaginative orchestral arrangements performed by notable New York-based musicians such as Hideaki Aomori, Alex Sopp, Tim Albright, Kyle Resnick, and the Osso Quartet. Atkinson’s inspired orchestrations appear throughout: sinister saxaphones slither through “We Are Pilgrims No More (The End Of Our Traveling Days)”. Bright, athletic horns pump “When You Leave” and “All Of Our Makeup (Words From The Front)” into the stratosphere and dreamlike strings swirl swiftly and deftly through “Our Great Escape” and “Grave Song”. Elsewhere, longtime Takka Takka sonic touchstones appear in evolved form: Gabe Levine’s vocals are more focused, fierce, and commanding than ever before. The drums remain dry and methodical, and the guitars range from quiet grace to controlled fury, making A.M. Landscapes a logical continuation in the Takka Takka journey. Pattern is Movement Following their first three records, endless shows and tours, and the transition from five-to-four-to-three-to-two members, Pattern is Movement turned themselves inside out and made the record All Together. That is the record that compelled Stereogum to declare that "Pattern is Movement deserve your worship." And the notoriously cagy Pitchfork to write: "It takes special musicians to make a sound like this work, but three LPs into their career, Thiboldeaux and Ward seem to have it figured out, creating an accessible album that nonetheless sounds unlike anything any other band is doing." After touring non-stop in support of All Together, and sharing the stage with amazing musicians, such as St. Vincent, Wye Oak, as well as literally sharing the stage with The Roots, they went back home and started working on their fifth record. Fast forward to 2012 and the record is complete and both Andrew and Chris have never been more excited about something they've made. They will be sharing this record with the world, sometime in 2013, on Hometapes. $10