Mi Ami’s ‘African Rhythms’ cropped up defiantly in the recent Fat Planet end-of-year show – defiant against the fact that the other 40+ records were all from outside the Anglo American axis, whereas the Mi Ami trio root themselves firmly in San Francisco. ‘African Rhythms’ was, however, the record I’d been waiting to hear for a very long time: with a considered nod to its source material, the track launches almost immediately into a tight tom percussive riff accompanied by cacophonous, unapologetic wailing. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Mi Ami drop a sprawling, frenetic deposit of guitar-driven noise over the top; spreading a secondary layer of disorientating substances over something that’s already alarmingly potent.

Daniel Martin-McCormick and Jacob Long come to Mi Ami from Washington punk band Black Eyes, joined by drummer Damon Palermo. Certainly, the punk aesthetic is alive and kicking herein, but spun into less familiar, less over-wrought territory. Official propaganda even goes so far as to cite dance, dub and disco as touch-stones. Shortly after hearing ‘African Rhythms’, and thrashing the hell out of it whenever I had the chance, I sent off for a Mi Ami remix CD-R that, since then, sadly seems to have disappeared from web view. It’s a sensational collection of lopsided, off-kilter versions and one that does indeed factor the dance-floor into its world view.

Two official releases drop in the next short while from the trio on Quarterstick / Touch & Go Records: a single ‘Echonoecho’ (Jan 27th) and the debut album ‘Watersports’ (Feb 17th). They’ve also just remixed Telepathe for their latest ‘Devil’s Trident’ release on Merok. That said, live on stage feels like the best place to witness Mi Ami in their purest form. With a full dance card of American dates and a planned Euro-tour in the offing, participation is wholeheartedly encouraged.

Mi Ami – African Rhythms | mp3 (via Dusted)

See also the Mi Ami mixtape, ‘Ones & Twos’ (via Meatskull).

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