January 27-February 2, 2005

musicpicks

Artanker Convoy

Rock/pop They'd never admit it. They probably don't realize it either. But the six members of Artanker Convoy have more in common with Medeski Martin & Wood than any band of the Brooklyn basement variety. This is not a bad thing. Like the latter's slave-to-the-rhythm jazz, Artanker's postmodern patchwork stretches tracks like taffy at a county fair without ever sounding like a noodling, comfortably numb jam band. If anything, they find an unforeseen middle ground between hipsters and hippies, an insistent groove that'd move the masses at a Rapture show or the second stage of Bonnaroo. And unlike most bands with seven-minute songs, Artanker actually sounds great when you aren't absurdly stoned. The just-released Mature Fantasy LP (The Social Registry) is a prime example of this, as it lulls the listener into a stupor with slight shades of soul, Krautrock, bossa nova, hip-hop, psych, punk funk and New York noise. Prepare to be bowled over.

Fri., Jan. 28, 8 p.m., $7, 21+, with The Spinto Band and Goldenbrown, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475.

—Andrew Parks