Particle

Through relentless touring over the last couple years and word-of-mouth, Particle has quickly made a name for themselves by exciting audiences with their self-described "space porn" at festivals, clubs and late-night parties around the country. Known for their intense live shows which feature a blend of high-octane funk and electronica, Particle called upon producer Tom Rothrock (Coldplay, Beck, Foo Fighters) to help bring their high-energy sound into the studio.

The pairing apparently worked, as Particle's first full-length album, Launchpad, effectively captures their feverous live show in the strict confines of a studio setting. Steve Molitz's Moog synthesizer is the definitive driving force on the album's most exciting songs, such as "The Banker," which features the band's take on 70's style disco-funk. Haunting tracks like the interesting "7 minutes to Darkness (part 2)" would make a great Sci-Fi soundtrack with their "Space Odyssey" vibe. Meanwhile Charlie Hitchcock's energetic guitar playing on the more techno-oriented songs like "Metropolis" and "Launchpad" would be great background music for a late-night dance party.

The musicianship on Launchpad is undeniably tight and energetic, though the techno/trance sound does get repetitive quickly. But as much as the lack of variety makes for a somewhat tough listen, it's overall fluidity and intensity displays why Particle's live shows are attracting acclaim from fans around the country.