The Chicago, IL-based quartet of Raiders of the Lost Art specialize in a sound that’s highly unusual for most indie rock bands – hell, for most acts these days as it’s heavily inspired by jazz; in fact, it sounds equally inspired and informed by Van Morrison as it does by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (at least in tone and feel) as you’ll hear on “Belarus,” the first single off the band’s forthcoming, self-titled full-length effort, slated for a June 3 release. 

Interestingly enough, the band which claims that their work will (and does) pay homage Can, Gorillaz, Guided by Voices and others have four other full-length albums in the can, and all of them seem to have sci-fi/prog rock theme, complete with it’s own complex mythology. Few bands are as willing to openly weird and challenging so early on – and in such an in-your-face manner.