Pitchfork

[Posted Tuesday, November 11th, 2003 05:45:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

After six years as a functioning unit, Milwaukee's Pele are calling it quits. Though they were most often tagged as a math-rock band, Pele's music was jazzy and bright, forbearing the abrasion commonly ascribed to the genre and weaving instead an optimistic, richly textured sound complete with the occasional flourish of acoustic guitar. Possibly sharing the honor exclusively with Cheval De Frise, Pele could be described as jammy math-rock you can listen to with your grandmother. Assuming she doesn't mind a little tempo, of course.

According to the band's website, bass player Matt Tennessen will become a full-time member of the group Paris, TX, who will be releasing an album on New Line Cinema's newfangled record label this coming spring. The remaining members of Pele-- Chris Rosenau, Jon Mueller, Jon Minor, and Jim Schoenecker-- will continue on under the name Collections of Colonies of Bees, who already have six releases under their belt. Mueller and Rosenau's record label, Crouton, will remain in operation. The reign of Pele will conclude with a Japanese mini-tour, covering the following dates in January:

01-11 Shinjuku, Japan - Loft (w/ 54-71, Mo'Some Tonebender, Battles)
01-12 Shimokitazawa, Japan - Shelter (w/ Toe, 9 Days Wonder, Band Wagon)
01-15 Nagoya, Japan - Tokuzo (w/ 54-71, Battles)
01-16 Osaka, Japan - Firefly (w/ Battles)
01-17 Kyoto, Japan - Woopies (w/ 54-71, Battles)
01-19 Tokyo, Japan - TBA

According to Adam at Polyvinyl, the band will also play a few Midwestern dates before leaving for Japan "with Chicago being strongly considered and Milwaukee a possibility." These dates are still unconfirmed but we'll bring them to you when we have them.

If you're unfamiliar with the stylings of the band, a recommended start would be 2002's Enemies, released on Polyvinyl Records. We leave you with this quote from the band themselves, snagged from their site: "We would like to collectively thank everyone who bought our records, came to our shows, talked to us in person or email, had a drink with us, gave us a place to rest and/or food to eat, or even just thought of us. We could've done it without you, but it sure would have sucked!"