Tussle formed in 2001 to provide some much needed avant garde electronica to the Bay Area. Abandoning conventional dance music, they embraced Jamaican dub and No Wave to create an artistic opportunity for people to boogie. Their music embraces heavy beats and funky melodies making it simultaneously easy to listen to but very complex. With shows characterized by freestyling and jamming, they represent an electronic band drifting from the overhyped DJ supergroups like Justice and Girl Talk. Plus, with four people in the band and DJs in addition to instrumentalists, the group is fascinating to watch perform live.

The band is currently composed of two of the original members, Jonathan Holland on drums and electronics and Nathan Burazer on electronics. Joining them is Warren Huegel on drums and Tomonori Yasuda on bass an electronics. Their newest album, "Cream Cuts," came out in late August. They worked with producer Thom Monahan, famous in the music world for working with Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and Silver Jews. Last year the band toured with YACHT and Hot Chip. Embracing intimate sounds and experimental rhythems, Cream Cuts is their best release yet.

If you're a Tussle fan, be sure to vote for them in the Experimental, etc. category of the SF Weekly Music Awards.

--Melissa Baron