Tom Lynch

Solid Chicago indie-pop outfit Canasta celebrates the release of "We Were Mixed Up" tonight, a record of remixes that’s an answer to the band’s latest offering, "We Were Set Up," with contributions from members of Office, Brighton, MA, The Fake Fictions and more. Led by Matt Priest, Canasta’s strength has been mixing genres, ever so slightly, to keep it unpredictable, and in that regard a record full of electronic-tinged material makes sense. The band’s impressive orchestral pop, which really could catch on at any moment in a big, big way, will not cease in its power—listening to "We Were Set Up" again for the first time in a long while, I can’t believe I was able to put it down in the first place. Scotland Yard Gospel Choir plays as well, whose similarly ambitious indie-pop came to fruition with last fall’s self-titled Bloodshot Records debut, the follow-up to the much-lauded "I Bet You Tell That to All the Boys," this new one a better record all around that musically bounces between childlike giddiness and vast nostalgic sadness. Overall, it’s a splendid achievement. Local act Otter Petter opens, a band that’s also up to some good.

Canasta, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and Otter Petter play March 1 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 West Belmont, (773)281-4444, at 9:30pm. $10. (2008-02-26)

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