Posted on: October 4, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

MON 11/12 WASHINGTON, DC Black Cat
TUE 11/13 BALTIMORE, MD Ottobar
THU 11/15 PHILADELPHIA, PA First Unitarian Church
FRI 11/16 NEW YORK, NY Blender Theater @ Gramercy
SAT 11/17 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ House Of Blues Harlem Club
MON 11/19 BOSTON, MA Paradise Rock Club
TUE 11/20 MONTREAL, PQ Club Soda
WED 11/21 TORONTO, ON Lee’s Palace
FRI 11/23 CHICAGO, IL Abbey
SAT 11/24 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7th Street Entry
TUE 11/27 SEATTLE, WA Chop Suey
WED 11/28 VANCOUVER BC Richard’s on Richards
THU 11/29 PORTLAND, OR Doug Fir Lounge
FRI 11/30 SACRAMENTO,CA Harlow’s

When was the last time you can say you safely danced to a beat that seduced you into a swaying stuper
and groove that, that before you knew it the lights are on and last call had already been and gone?

When was the last time you could unashamedly enjoy sounds from a band reminiscent of the iconic pop
electronic synthesized sounds nodding to previous creations by the likes of Dave Stewart, Pet Shop Boys,
Editors, The Rakes, Bloc Party, Interpol and She Wants Revenge?

Even more intriguingly, when was the last time you knew of a band from the west coast (L.A. to be precise)
who could churn out such musical marvels and remain true to their electro pop forefathers and roots only to receive a wave of critical acclaimand attention in the process?

Well, loyal “band spotters”, these are the guilty culprits…

“A nervous tension plays out in the disco drums, spindly basslines, and stabbing guitars…Moving Units’ commitment to the sweaty, post-punk dance floor never flags.” – Soma

Moving Units; Los Angeles based quartet consisting of Blake Miller, Johan Boegli and Chris Hathwell and Victor Velazquez all collectively contribute their musical wizardry and talent toward such a strong and credible force, known to you and I and in the shape and form of their spectacular followup album Hexes for Exes. (out 10/9)

Past tour mates such as Pixies, Blur, Interpol, Secret Machines, Hot Hot Heat and The Locust have had the pleasure of shaking and grooving the masses on the road and gathering a legion of fans from coast to coast. Now Blake, Johan, Chris and Victor are ready for another round… Your chance to experience Hexes for Exes loud and direct, plugged in and amped up for your utter pleasure and pervasion is almost upon you.

“…best heard live and loud.”- Village Voice

Having sealed a record deal with Metropolis Records who are releasing Hexes for Exes this fall on October 9th – you have to trust us here folks, for once you’ve lived with this album you’ll most certainly be eager to see what they can come up with live.

Blake has been compared to other dark and devlish performers not unlike Trent Reznor, Robert Smith (The Cure) with hints of Bowie in there. Moving Units’ showmanship and musicianship with front man Miller taking the reigns, they steer you on a rollercoaster ride, through a topsy turvy electronic fun house, the drums fueling the machine with bass, guitar and synths providing the thrills. What you hear on the album is multiplied by ten when you witness them live.

This release is a natural evolution from the last and this band is no cheap imitation but a sincere downright good electronic rockin pop delight without limitations and a depth and darkness just for kicks. Indeed, we salute the west coast for coming up trumps with this band and top notch album and offering it to the music loving masses.

The core of the band is Blake Miller – Guitar/Vox (one half of Weird Science, Steve Aoki being the other), Johan Boegli – Bass, and Chris Hathwell – Drums. Recently adding fourth member, Victor Velazquez (Guitar), the band are now set for the release and road trip to bring you a large and healthy dose of just what you need to keep you dancing into the early hours.

What Moving Units has done is expand their sound to include anything that felt right to them which luckily
for us has resulted in a killer album beginning to end. Including electronic drums and synthesizers, the album evolved into a haunting journey late into the night.

The result is a new strand of Dance DNA by the name of Hexes for Exes, which expands both the band’s musical palate and instrumental limitations, creating an album that is truly progressive.

“Moving Units is LA’s great hope to revitalize the decrepit dance-punk scene.” – Portland Mercury

“Pink Thoughts” begins the album an upbeat yet dark burner, setting the tone by mixing the band’s tried and true dance style with a drum machine introduction and a more melodic approach. “Crash and Burn Victims” a haunting electro-dance number, providing the listener a glimpse of the band’s expanded vision, segues directly into “Paper Hearts”, a mournful rocker of lost love. “The Kids from Orange County” a song about the burgeoning scene in Los Angeles neighboring county, known more for its surf and pop-punk bands and gated communities than asymmetrical haircuts and sweaty bangers. The rollercoaster then continues and takes you to the depth of “Pick Up the Phone”, the indie-epic ballad “Kings and Queens of Nothing”, a curve-ball with the ethereal “Hearts Departed” (which was actually the inspiration behind “Paper Hearts”), and closing with “Blood Beats” an up-tempo synth-dance tune that leaves the listener satisfied and inspired, glad that they hit repeat before starting the album.

Be sure to check out their myspace where you can exclsuively download “Pink Thoughts” for a limited time

Before their November tour hits, Moving Units will take the stage alongside other electronic musical delights Justice, Bloc Party, The Teddybears and numerous others at this Years’s Detour Music festival. In addition, Blake takes the decks to show off his dj skills at this years Neighborhood Music Fest on September 29th.

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