Miami Ice

Miami Ice is the upbeat and wide-ranging third full-length album from Chicago/Philadelphia ensemble Icy Demons. As on previous releases, the band's altered Pop music draws on a wide range of musical vocabulary, sometimes within a single song. Though recorded throughout a very busy year, the album has a very natural feel and excited energy, like the warming of the senses in spring after a long winter. Icy Demons cofounders Chris Powell (a.k.a. Pow Pow) and Griffin Rodriguez (a.k.a. Blue Hawaii) use an odd assortment of vintage keyboards and ethnic percussion, and evoke a past that actually might prove to be the future. Features guest appearances by Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Josh Abrams (Prefuse 73, the Sea and Cake), Tomeka Reed, and Russell Higbee (Man Man). Obey Your Brain, 2008.