While you were dozing, longtime Bay maven, XBXRX frontman, and KIT drummer Vice Cooler has been busy evolving. This fall's Daggers at the Moon both cuts to the bone, taking a stab at a kind of ruthless "troof," and takes the music to more complicated places than before. This time out, the man was assisted by co-producer and mixer Greg Saunier of Deerhoof -- he also called in contributions from friends and artists like High Places' Mary Pearson, Grouper's Liz Harris, Erase Errata's Jenny Hoyston, Evangelista's Carla Bozulich, and the Melvins' David Scott Stone. All of which makes for a rich, collaborative brew. It's the most hip-hop -- and experimental -- release by the one-man band to date.