Dearly Beloved

From the microtonal bleeding edge of cyberspace to Berlin's cavernous post-industrial clubs, the corkscrew productions of Matthew Dear (aka False, Jabberjaw, and Audion) have been in the headlights for years. Dear's digitally modulated singles explore microhouse and minimal's hypnotic resonance. His recordings and live performances, however, have more recently incorporated artfully disconnected, deadpan pop, his laptop augmented by drum-and-guitar duo Big Hands. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Dear maintains a sound that incorporates Detroit techno's appropriately clipped austerity while remaining rubbery and rounded. Also showing how melody, melancholy, and an askew metronome can be effective songwriting transports is Chicago-via-New-Orleans duo Telefon Tel Aviv, touring to preview its January full-length Immolate Yourself.