THURSDAY APRIL 14



CARO, MILES TILMANN, HAKEA

Orac Records boss Randy Jones drops his outstanding debut album, The Return of Caro, in May, revealing the Seattle producer's compositional pizzazz and impressive range. The disc encompasses lascivious electro, a 21st-century Stevie Wonder-esque ballad, 3 Chairs-style electro-organic house, an effed-up Perez Prado homage, epic acid house, and more. And Jones' DJ sets are always enlightening and enlivening; let's hope he previews cuts off his album tonight. Chicago's Miles Tilmann is best known for his rhythmically sophisticated, lushly melodic IDM for labels like Toytronic and Sub:Marine. With Greg Skidmore. Visuals by Shannon Palmer. Mantra Lounge, 210 Washington St, 652-0981, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $5.

FRIDAY APRIL 15



MATT CORWINE, LIBRARY SCIENCE, KANDA

Library Science plan to air their skewed strand of psychedelic dub, perhaps aided by a new instrument called "the Blooper." Matt Corwine is one of Seattle's most advanced house-music producers, a heady hedonist whose work falls in the golden mean between fellow locals Jacob London and Jeff Samuel. His mesmerizing tracks strike a perfect balance between wonky textures and ass-shaking beats, as he proved during his inspirational set opening for Matthew Dear and Swayzak last December. Corwine's No Scene 12-inch on U-Freqs as Mister Leisure arrives this summer. Portland duo Kanda make candy-coated electro pop perfect for chintzy computer speakers. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823, 9 pm-2 am, $5, 21+.

SATURDAY APRIL 16



WHY?

In a couple of short years, why? (Yoni Wolf) has gone from being a member of avant-hiphop subverters cLOUDDEAD and of one rap's great Jewish hopes to an earnest indie-pop naif. Judging from his debut, oaklandazulasylum, and the new Sanddollars EP, why? is at this point more likely to open for Animal Collective (or, indeed, Deerhoof) than for RJD2. On Sanddollars (a teaser for his September album Elephant Eyelash), why?'s music oozes a childlike charm and raggle-taggle yet lush pop classicism that are disarmingly cheerful. Acoustic guitar, dulcimer, cello, hurdy-gurdy, and analog synths wreath thin-wristed beats that won't be booming from any SUVs this summer. With Deerhoof, Warbler, Le Ton Mite. The Paradox, 1401 NW Leary Way, www.theparadox.org, 8 pm, $10, all ages.