NYC’s alternative songsmiths Operator Music Band are an innovative bunch, blending krautrock-esque new wave with chorus-laden indie tones and textures. On their most recent EP, Coördination, released last December, Operator Music Band makes much use of relatively spare songwriting technique, managing to entice their listeners with tightly controlled instrumentation amid synthy droning dissonance, harmonies reminiscent of Portishead (with Dara Hirsch and Jared Hiller exchanging lead vocal duties), and unpredictable departures midway through a given song into an entirely new idea, as evidenced in "Communicator 4." In spite of obvious nods to their predecessors, Operator Music Band sounds fresh and interesting. Don’t miss them at Alphaville on March 30th in support of Trace Mountains, and have a listen to "Communicator 4" below! – Ethan Ames
