Cold Beat - Worms EP/ Remixes 12"

Label: Crime on the Moon

As San Francisco post-punk trio Grass Widow, Hannah Lew, Raven Mahon, and Lillian Maring create intriguingly off-kilter harmonies, but in 2013 they've shown that they make pretty awesome music apart, too. In July, Maring released a muted, haunting self-titled solo record under the name Ruby Pins. Now Lew has put out "Worms", the first single from her own solo project Cold Beat.

"Worms" sounds a bit like a vintage surf-rock song chopped up and tossed in a blender-- breezy riffs, tumbling percussion, and Lew's foggy vocals swirl around in a melodic maelstrom. That description fits Lew's other band too, but Cold Beat sounds like it's coming from a more singular and personal sensibility. Lew is also a visual artist and filmmaker, and Cold Beat's debut single shares its droll, DIY charm with her short films and music videos (she's directed clips for King Tuff, Frankie Rose, Hunx & His Punx and more). If you're not already familiar with her work, "Worms" is a suitable window into her world.

-Lindsay Zoladz for Pitchfork 2013