Vancouverites Mark Wiebe, Jeremy Unrau and Heather Warkentin have quietly released brilliant EPs and full-lengths under the name Guitaro since the tail end of the 20th century.  With great injustice, they mostly passed under the radar of the world’s tastemaking music media, save for the critical lauding within their native British Columbia. That’s hopefully about to change, and if we can play a part in it, we certainly will. After a six year hiatus, this undiscovered gem may have released the definitive album for shoegazers who like to cut rugs and reach escape velocity. Guitaro’s latest, JJ’s Crystal Palace, is a ten-song space disco romp through varying moods, tempos, and volumes. Maturing from the raw heavy dream pop of 2002?s Futura Black, JJ’s Crystal Palace comes replete with celestial synths, echo-laden beats, lush harmonies, walls-of-guitar, and serious sonic gravity.

Those amongst us who were greatly excited by M83′s Red Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts then were fucking pissed by the Depeche Mode-shaped turd of Before The Dawn Heals Us, as well as Tubeaway Army superfans and those who believe Air can do no wrong will find a myriad of technicolor delights within JJ’s Crystal Palace. Guitaro has constructed some truly beautiful, heady, highly hummable anthems, slathered in infectious mid-tempo dance rhythms and a liberal dose of futurism. It totally rips.

JJ’s Crystal Palace lands March 1, courtesy of the band’s label called… Help Computer! Those who are privy to some of 2004′s most excellent Internet memes should be lawling about right now. I know I did.

For fans of:  Air, Ladytron, Lali Puna

MP3 :::
Guitaro – Hill Mountain
Guitaro –  Chateau 100