Premiere: Saint Motel, ‘Puzzle Pieces’

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Saint Motel’s difficult-to-pigeonhole brand of pop-rock just got more difficult to pigeonhole. The Los Angeles quartet, who riffed their way onto the scene with the calisthenics-worthy hooks and rhythms on their six-song “ForPlay” EP and in the process became one of the town’s most exuberant live acts, has been working on material for its next release. The first taste is, of all things, a stuttering pop romp based on a frolicsome piano line. As different as it is at first, “Puzzle Pieces” has all the signature Saint Motel elements: A/J Jackson’s soaring pop vocals, Aaron Sharp’s scratchy guitar, a smidgen of synth sheen and a shout-along chorus. The foursome is still working on plans for their new release, but with this volley they have again shown their knack for assembling the pieces of pop and rock into four infectious minutes. Where’s the party?

||| Download: “Puzzle Pieces”

||| Live: Saint Motel’s four shows at SXSW in Austin. includes an official showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday at Emo’s.