Calculated nonsense, refined noise rock: Michigan’s Mason Proper finds the ambience amongst their chaotic imaginary world.  Vocalist Jonathon Visger’s vision developed as a solo project in 2003, evolved to a five piece for 2004, felt the curse of rotating band-mates, and has reached its current state of existence with the corn-fed talents of Matt Thompson (keyboards), Zach Fineberg (bass), Brian Konicek (guitar), and Garrett Jones (drums).  Yum.  Corn.

Although it took two years to release their first full-length album, 2006’s “There is a Moth in Your Chest,” the boys’ quirky lyrics, synth-heavy breaks, and spasmatic stage presence endeared them to the indie community.  Swooped up by NYC’s Dovecote Records in 2007, the album was re-released with new songs, tighter production, and label backing. This gave the band a chance to break free of their Midwestern upbringing and venture out like baby birds out of a nest, embarking on national tours, including performances at Monolith Festival and South by Southwest.

An EP and critically acclaimed LP later, Mason Proper still can’t pinpoint their tastes and influences (Visger describes each song as a “flight of fancy”). Despite the confusion, their latest album, “Olly Oxen Free,” is turning heads with the melancholy “Lock and Key” and the thrashing hipster anthem “My My (Bad Fruit).”  For all their hard work, the boys have recently been featured on Canadian MTV and Seattle’s legendary KEXP, proving it’s always the strange quiet ones you have to watch out for.

They recently graced our Butchershop Studios in San Francisco with a live performance of their latest single “Fog.”