HEAR THIS: Rare Monk

Photo courtesy of Jenna Westover

Check out Death By Proxy, a free EP from Portland-based Rare Monk, available on their Bandcamp. It’s a sharp one, bursting at the seams with ideas. As a teaser for their first full-length LP, Sleep/Attack-due this month, it’s an effective encapsulation of their extremes, starting with the title track, an indie pop gem, and moving farther afield with the satisfying crunch of “Underground,” before finishing with the violin showcase rave-up of “Mama Bear,” polished up from the Astral Travel Battles version. Working at Miracle Lake Studios has certainly agreed with the band, as evidenced on new track “Drumhead.” Be on the lookout for them to hit the road throughout 2013.