Altered Zones

In a recent Q&A with The Voice's Christopher Weingarten, Psychic Paramount founder and guitarist Drew St. Ivany was asked to elaborate on an earlier confession that he hoped his music would function in the same way as a drug: "One guy came to see us play numerous times in [previous project] Laddio Bolocko," St. Ivany replied. "He suffered from extreme stomach pain and claimed that doctors weren't doing anything for him. He used the bass frequencies for medicinal purposes and stood directly in front of the PA speakers." "Healing" is hardly a word that comes to mind when listening to this noisy New York trio's sophomore LP on No Quarter, but its combinination of dizzying polyrhyms, pummeling bass, and proggy chord changes offers the kind of deep-body experience that leaves no organ unturned. Album centerpiece "DDB," below, pushes Thrill Jockey math-rock memories straight into the noise-rock red, and seems to show that Can and Yes are by no means incompatible. --Emilie Friedlander, Altered Zones

MP3: Psychic Paramount: "DDB"

II is out now on No Quarter