Led with cheery ferocity by lead singer/violent contortionist Akiko Matsuura, English band Pre pick up the shards of the most caustic No Wave traditions and piece them together with heavier grooves (they play with two bassists) and tighter rhythms; it's the kind of racket too many bands unfortunately avoid. LA's the Mae Shi, meanwhile, have honed their own brand of abrasion into something quite catchy. Their latest album, HLLLYH, intersperses sing-along choruses and dance-ready beats with their trademark stormy electronics and squawking noise.