Pitchfork: Bats & Mice Release New EP

Bats & Mice Release New EP
Unable to reach accord over most elegant ampersand, Sharks and Jets just burst into song again

Ben Davis' rock band, the thoroughly Lovittesque Bats & Mice (Lovittesque, adj. - a neologism describing music that is dark, forceful yet atmospheric, pop-inflected, rooted in the Dischord tradition) have just finished up a European tour and are celebrating by releasing a new EP, A Person Carrying a Handmade Paper Bag Is Considered as a Royal Person. The EP marks the first new Bats & Mice material since their 2002 Lovitt long-player, Believe It Mammals, and was also released in Europe on 7" vinyl by Narshardaa Records.

Featuring Davis (ex-Milemarker, Sleepytime Trio) on vocals and bass, David Nesmith (Sleepytime Trio) on guitar, and Luke Herbst (who's recovered nicely from an altercation involving a broken drumstick and his eye some months ago, which endangered his drumming but afforded him the opportunity to un-ironically sport an eye patch for a while) on drums, Lovitt says the EP is favorably served by this leaner and butt-tight lineup. Tracks & Lists:

01 The Royal Paper Bag
02 Military Smile
03 Even and Then Some
04 Around What's Done

Bats & Mice began as a Sleepytime Trio side project, and have been through several line-up changes between their first EP and this newest release. Sleepytime Trio/Engine Down member Jonathan Fuller departed after the first EP, and was replaced by Ash Bruce and Daron Hollowell for Bats & Mice's debut LP. Hollowell and Bruce split in 2003 to focus on their own project, Delegate, and were replaced by Herbst, which brings us up to the modern incarnation of the band. The new lineup is also reportedly working on a new full-length that, according to Lovitt, will "expand the dynamic sounds hinted at by this abbreviated EP."