Making dance music is nothing new. Hell, nowadays it's not even that hard. I think it's safe to say that San Francisco quartet Tussle know that cats out of the bag, and for the last couple of years they've been sweating it up in basements and art galleries around the US letting everybody else know that too. And that's just it. Their no-frills, hands-on approach to making "Dance Music" is irresistible (especially when set against the backdrop of embarrassing trends such as "Electroclash"). Their divergent musical interests in everything from dub to minimal techno are fused together in a live space of drone and propulsion. The beats are 4/4, but pounded out in real time. The second drum kit, made from various found metal objects and plastic containers, skitters across the foreground in delayed sparks. Ragtag electronics keep the melodies sparse, and the bass holds it all together in a tight soupy mess. With a subtle punk edginess and a laid back late night swing, Tussle inject a much-needed breath of fresh air into what's become a genre of parodies.
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