Professor Murder

Professor Murder was a pivotal, if short-lived, fixture of the mid-2000s New York City dance-punk revival. Formed in 2005, the quartet - consisting of Jesse Cohen, Andy Craven, Michael Bell-Smith, and Tony Blankets - carved out a niche by emphasizing live percussion and analog synthesizers over traditional guitar-driven rock.

Their sound identity is deeply rooted in the 'Mutant Disco' and No Wave scenes of late 70s NYC, drawing direct lines from Liquid Liquid and Konk. Their debut EP, 'Professor Murder Rides the Subway' (2006), remains their most significant cultural contribution, praised for its rhythmic complexity and raw energy. The band's evolution saw them experimenting with dub techniques and techno-influenced structures, often recorded by the Emm brothers (of Tanlines and Don Caballero fame). Following their dissolution around 2008, members transitioned into the electronic-pop outfit Restless People, while Jesse Cohen achieved further visibility as one half of Tanlines. Critically, they are remembered as a 'musician's band' that prioritized the physical, rhythmic experience of music over commercial indie tropes.