Atlanta music news: The Purkinje Shift returns

Although the three members of the Purkinje Shift reconvened in December 2009 to play a short set during the Eyedrum memorial concert for former CL writer Thomas Peake, band members Ben Davis (guitar), Gary Flom (guitar) and Lee Corum (drums) haven’t played a proper show in 11 years. That’ll change May 21 when the group takes the stage at 529.

From ‘96 till 2000, the Purkinje Shift defined Atlanta’s flourishing math-rock scene. The members dressed in suits and cranked out tight and complex instrumental songs that embraced a lattice of post-hardcore and obtuse, jazz-like time signatures, featured on a 7-inch and two full-lengths, Nickel Waves and Carbon Stars and Five For the Road and One For the Ditch (both released via Samizdat). Now they’re back to rekindle the old flame and to play some brand new songs they’ve yet to release as well.

Since 1998, the third week in May has been observed by various cities around the world as Hip-Hop Appreciation Week (HHAW). The theme for HHAW 2011 (May 15-22) is “RESPECT,” and local organizers have planned a week of concerts and civic events aimed at enlightening the community and decriminalizing hip-hop’s mainstream image.

On Mon., May 16, at 6 p.m., Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall will deliver a city proclamation during a press conference at Cloud IX to announce a week of activities that kicks off with HHAW’s Spiritual Opening Ceremony at Inspirit Truth Center (Lindley Middle School). For the full schedule of local events, visit hhaw.org/events.

Georgia State University’s student women’s studies group, Faces of Feminism, will host a benefit show at the Earl on May 19. Performing bands include Knaves Grave, the Sunglasses, Savant and Chandu’s, and all proceeds will benefit three local organizations: Kelli’s Childcare Collective, Girls Rock Camp Atlanta and SisterSong. There will also be a zine and cassette tape compilation, The F-Word Comp, for sale at the show, featuring contributions from 21 local acts, including Athens Boys Choir, Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause, Carnivores and more. No Brakes will host a downloadable version of the cassette/zine as well.

NEW RELEASES: Local purveyor of swag-step, glitch-hop and dubstep, Taste Tester has posted his debut, five-song EP, The Battle of Atlanta, on Abstract Logic Recordings’ website. The 19-year-old Atlanta producer, born Sam Wilhoit, raised eyebrows with last year’s remix of Charlie P’s “Do You Feel Real.” Now he returns with a short, fully realized set of songs. One of the standouts, “Fate of the South,” features a collaboration with College Park MC Stanza.

DJ Dug Boogie dropped a new mixtape, The Hop Stew Mix Show, taken from his Wrong Side of the Tracks radio show (WSTR) on 89.3 (WRFG-FM). Spirits and the Melchizedek Children posted its new album, We Are Here to Save You, on Bandcamp last week. The album features 10 haunting new numbers recorded by Ed Rawls at Living Room studio.

Clan Destined recently released a new video for “Lost Innocence,” featuring Lyric Jones.

Zruda, featuring Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher and members of Gaylord, has a self-titled EP out now.

And on May 17, Richard Parsons will release a new electronic album via Bandcamp called Keeping the Wolves From the Door, under his new Mechanochemical moniker — a project he conjured after suffering a bout of tendinitis in his left hand.