seven

I usually take forever to review Thine Eyes / ML releases, much to my chagrin. After all, if you know anything about me, it's that I have been a fan of this trio (Laird, Tanner, Rian) for several years. I own five of their releases, and I'm crazy about every single one. It was a huge disappointment to find out that Drag and Drop, the demo that marked the debut of ML, would not see release, but I was elated to hear that Pajama Party will fill that position.

ML managed to pair up with Toast & Jam Records to release one of the most economical releases I've ever seen: a $3 EP. What makes this deal so special is that there's more music on this 'EP' than there is on your average Cold Meat Industries album (50 minutes vs. 40), it's consistently better than most albums of any kind, and it comes with the secure knowledge that your money is supporting funky white boys.

That being said, Pajama Party shows the continuing evolution of the ML sound. Whereas Thine Eyes was primarily rhythms with quirky melodies, ML is mostly quirky melodies with some bizarre rhythms. And those rhythms, in particular, are getting much stranger. The base sound is still funky IDM, but the continuing experiments with tones, blips, and bleeps makes the music truly unique.

"Take That, Pants" (okay, the track titles aren't exactly run-of-the-mill, either) evokes memories of the metallic clanks that made Autechre: Chiastic Slide so good, with expansive, lowing ambience and... farting sounds backing it up. I can't stop laughing when I hear this, and I have no doubt that's the intended effect.

Of course, humor is great, but only up to a point. ML takes a more serious approach with "Pawtucket, RI." Its flittering effects and deep groove are rounded out by a relaxing, soft atmosphere. It's the most accessible track on Pajama Party, and a well-placed respite in the middle of a fairly challenging album.

Yes, I said challenging. Take a listen to "Bottleneck." It features a host of off-kilter tones and slightly discordant timing, which makes it bizarre and nearly unlistenable at first. It has the same charm as Autechre: Amber, although its dependence on a scraping, technoid sound moves it far away from that album's territory.

And while the title of "Let's Be Japanese Girls Together" implies more humor, the music eloquently says otherwise. The track, which mixes deep tones with high-pitched, wavering chords and sparse beats, is one of the most emotive and serious tracks I've heard from ML. Easy to get into, impossible to get out of.

These tracks together make a compelling case for an absolutely unforgettable album. But the truly rewarding aspect of Pajama Party is its price, $3. These two factors in conjunction make this ML debut a must. It's too good a deal to pass up.

Pajama Party can be ordered from the Toast and Jam website. The official Thine Eyes page will also have more information. For the skeptics among us, the group's MP3.com site offers a couple of tracks from the album.