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The label "dance-punk" as applied to NYC's Measles Mumps Rubella is not really accurate—"dance-post-punk" is maybe more appropriate, if not as snappy, and even the "dance" part may be debatable. Sure, many of the songs are driven by Ryan Hicks's spare disco drumbeats, but MMR seem to be more interested in sonic experimentation and exploration of song forms than in instigating much booty-shaking. Opening track "Algorithm of Desire" vectors forward on repeating minimal guitar and bass figures (from Mark Robelewski and Robert Austin, respectively) before exploding into chaos and then resolving into a ringing buzzsaw guitar sound. "Libra Science" is downright psychedelic, starting with air raid guitar and including what sounds like an attempt at Tuvan-style throat singing by vocalist Chuck Bettis. "Mythstery of Zygo" is even more psychedelic, in a Dr. Who-on-a-bad-acid-trip way. Bettis also provides squawks of free-jazz trumpet on "Hollow Bodies," and he yelps spastically, accompanied by violent stabs of guitar, on "Apples to Echoes." "Nice Hollow Bodies," the closing track of this 7-track, half-hour disc, is almost ambient, with just a thumping bass drum for percussion, guitar atmospherics, and what sounds like Moog (though the instrument isn't credited). This is a challenging listen, and it won't be for everybody, but I give the band credit for being adventurous. (mike.03.06)
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