By: Ross Edwards
Rating: 9.5/11

Aa (BIG A little a) is an explosion of synthesizer colors, shouting, pounding percussion, and weird noises.It’s all mixed together to form something as interesting as the cryptic ink-drawings on their myspace page showing misshapen animals juxtaposed with machines.The shouted vocals have a bouncy, percussive tone, as everyone in the band contributes to the rhythmic bedlam.Clanging metal mixes with startled aggressive screams, feedback, and whirling synthesizers —they’re a punk band that has welcomed its experimental prog-rock side with open arms, and so does the listener.

Aa is a “never-ending rhythm experiment” with a unique sound that no one could have imagined would be effective.Even with the guttural, harsh vocals, the songs invoke a wonderfully unique, sinister, melodic sense.On “MANSHAKE,” the primal dance begins with shaker and drums, followed by panicked call-and-response shouting in rhythm (think Beastie Boys but oh so angry!) and an ambiguous, high-pitched synth bending violently.The vocals get stuck on the syllable “whoo” as the bass synth ominously batters the heavy pulse, and the song reaches a frantic climax of intertwining texture as the listener conjures up images of space invaders performing some kind of ritual sacrifice.Interested yet? Currently, they have no upcoming performances posted, but it’ll be worth the wait.