New York's outfit Pop 1280 emerged with the bleak EP The Grid (Sacred Bones, 2010). What a trip that is: the gloriously stomping voodoobilly Step Into The Grid is just the appetizer, followed by Anonymous Blonde, a tribal version of the Velvet Underground’s trademark distorted boogie progression. Then they dive into wild industrial music with the android hissing and rumbling of Data Dump and into feral noise-rock with the infernal, agonizing Midget, and close with the massive rant & noise of Trash Cop. The overall feeling is one of a deranged and depraved orgy.

In the tradition of long strange trips across wide open spaces, the Colin L. Orchestra arrived at the offices of Northern-Spy Records via Colin Langenus' previous project, USAISAMONSTER. He's exchanged his previous duo for a full-scale rock orchestra of his bestest buds on multiple guitars, drums, violins, keyboards. Their first project, Infinite Ease/Good God, is full-scale indeed, available as a double-CD or a deluxe fully re-mastered for vinyl version of Infinite Ease with a digital download of Good God. Though three years in the making, they flow as smoothly as an inner tube on a lazy stream on a summers afternoon. Three years setting schemes and arranging sleeping dreams have culminated in two lush, flowing albums full of anthems and wee small moments. From the supple bass line that opens, "You Need Sleep", to crunches of guitar shred melting into velvet strings on their way to a country ditty that would do Graham Parsons proud. Here is a double-pleasure that re-envisions the jam band and, at the same time, indie rock, meshing together minimalistic repetitive jams, bright melodies, and loose, easy-going vocals all in the sole service of aiding your bliss.