When I first saw Micachu and the Shapes at CMJ in 2008, I was fairly underwhelmed. In hindsight I think it was probably the perfect storm that happens when too much hype (every review I read was all, “this chick plays a vacuum cleaner! OMGZ!”) meets an awkwardly early set in the wrong venue.

Of course, they’d also literally just signed to Accidental Records two months prior to that show. Not surprisingly, in the three years since then Mica Levi — the gender-bending Micachu herself — has grown an incredible amount as a musician. Her most recent release with The Shapes, out this month on Rough Trade, is Chopped and Screwed, which was recorded live with London Sinfonietta in May of last year. (Totally related side note: Micachu was commissioned to create a piece for the London Philharmonic Orchestra while she was still a student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.)

Chopped and Screwed is the band’s second full-length release, and while you should definitely check it out, I actually called you all here today to tell you about the mixtape that comes with the record. It features this emcee called Brother May (that’s bruv-ah to you, mate), and it takes the album and chops (and screws?) it up into grime tracks. You can listen to the mixtape streaming now courtesy of Rough Trade.

The real story here for me is Brother May. His flow is rough and dirty, right out of the box, no polish, no frills and no assembly required. On a quick quest to find out more about this guy I came across this video from late last year he did with Micachu and Baker Trouble called “Fine.” It’s dirty and low-budget, and proof that you don’t need a lot of money to do something visually interesting. Check it out, and listen to more Micachu here when you’re feeling experimental. She’ll be playing the next All Tomorrow’s Parties in Somerset with The Shapes, curated by Animal Collective.

Micachu & The Shapes – Everything