On Tuesday evening, a couple of West Coast Sound worlds collided when Hancock Park's Manimal Vinyl announced it had signed is working Silver Lake duo Tearist.

The inaugural fruit of that collaboration, and Tearist's first release ever, will come in the form of an EP — four original songs, two remixes — due out early summer. The CD and vinyl release is set to be produced by We Are The World's musical mastermind, Robbie Williamson. It also may be called This Is A Tax. We know that last part because we've got an exclusive rough demo (we've been told to emphasize that part) to share with you.

UPDATE: Manimal has not officially “signed” Tearist in any sort of exclusive or binding way beyond the release of the EP, which you will read about in 3… 2… 1…

But first, Manimal founder Paul Beahan on being turned on to Tearist: “Robbie actually called me one day and insisted that I see them play. He is one of the toughest and most honest music critics I have ever met. He seldom gets excited about L.A. bands, and when he raved about them, I knew I was in for something special.”

Beahan credited the duo's searing performance at The Echo back in December, as part of Manimal's month-long residency at the East Side venue, with sealing the deal, not to mention their “brain-melting” demos (and did we mention that we have one of those for you?). Of course, those haven't yet felt the touch of Williamson, who also composes for film and TV.

Says Beahan: “I feel that between Robbie, Yasmine [Kittles] and Will [Menchaca], they will come up with some huge sounds [accompanied by] sparser elements.” And as for remixers, those haven't been determined yet. “We can make it an open call,” Beahan adds. “If anyone out there thinks they can do a great job, let us have it.”

Tearist will also contribute to Manimal's upcoming David Bowie tribute compilation, covering “Repetition,” from 1979's Lodger. Now, remixers start your engines:

EXCLUSIVE: Tearist – “Headless” (rough demo) [MP3]

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