Lithics, Peru Resh, Laminates

To hear Lithics for the first time is to fall instantly in love with the Portland band. For anyone with a taste for jagged post-punk, their sound is entrancing despite its minimalism, inspiring energetic dance spasms (maybe that’s just me?) a la Gang of Four or the Fall, while always keeping a detached, cool vibe that’s emphasized by vocalist Aubrey Horner’s singing style. Mason Crumley’s guitar slashes jagged lines through every song, while the ace rhythm section of drummer Wiley Hickson and bassist Bob Desaulniers keeps things kinda, sorta funky (in the way art-rock occasionally veers onto the dance floor). A year after playing Volume 2017, they’re back with some killer songs from their new Mating Surfaces album.