Qui: Love's Miracle

Every contemporary aggro-noise band wants what Qui has: David Yow, the elder statesman who cut his teeth (among other things) in Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard. Qui, originally a drums-and-guitar duo, added Yow in 2006, and the new lineup looked toward the future with an eye on the past—specifically the early-'90s heyday of Amphetamine Reptile and Touch And Go. (For modern-day referents, see Pissed Jeans or Clockcleaner.) Yow's creepy vocals still sound unlike anything on earth, though Love's Miracle is dominated by abstract dynamics and experimentation more than the calculus-riffing and rhythm lock of The Jesus Lizard. (Unless there's a demo floating around of The Jesus Lizard falling down drunk; that might be analogous.) Also: The cover of Pink Floyd's "Echoes" is just ridiculous.