Mixel Pixel/Rahim

Fri., Feb. 23, 9 p.m., $8, with Papertrigger and A Study in Her, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St.

by A.D. Amorosi

pop/rock/experimental

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Brooklyn's Mixel Pixel manages to do some unthinkable things. Like utilize a Stephin Merritt-orious deadpan on a bunch of Atari-infused tunes that take from shiny '80s electro-pop and neo-psychedelic '60s folk with equal aplomb. Like fill up every bit of Contact Kid and Music for Plants with beeps and crinkles. This is all sort of Paris disco-licious fun on "Turkish Delights" and "Switchblade Sister." "Behind the Sun," despite its crowded sound, is breezy and blippy. But I don't remember this unit sounding so congested when they were called Mr. Mixel Pixel. Hmm. As for Rahim: They too started out simpler with their Jungles EP, all lean, mean and jagged-edgy, post-punky stuff. Now Ryan McCoy and Michael Friedrich have got these slinkier hypno-grooves and woozy wild keyboards on Ideal Lives. Big stuff. All growed up — the two of you.

Fri., Feb. 23, 9 p.m., $8, with Papertrigger and A Study in Her, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.