New release: Midstates & the Choir of Ghosts - 'Hate to See You Smile'

Just released from Chicago's Midstates and the Choir of Ghosts is Hate to See You Smile, a 6-track EP including the basic take on title track as well as four remixes and a Spanish-language version. The band, featuring Paul Heintz and José Rodriguez, evolved from a former project simply called Midstates, and dub themselves "the world's only space-motown band." The "space" definitely comes through in full force on the wonderful "Hate to See You Smile," an open, lilting dose of melodic dream pop that couldn't go down more smoothly. The remixes are a welcome addition, with the "Return to Mono" version providing the biggest variation via a pulsing synth-pop backdrop. This is excellent stuff and a great taster of what's to come on the band's full-length, Morning Pacific, coming later this year from Mental Monkey Records.

You can download the EP from iTunes, Amazon MP3 and other digital outlets. Catch Midstates and the Choir of Ghosts live on Wednesday, February 3 at the Empty Bottle (free, 11 p.m., 21 and over) and Thursday, February 4 at Darkroom (EP release dance party, 11 p.m., free entry with password "ghost"). For more information, visit the band's site.