New Jersey-based Memory Tapes will hit the road this summer to debut the polished, flashy new material off their forthcoming album, Player Piano. Since last year, band ringleader Dayve Hawk has toured as a duo alongside drummer Matt Maraldo, but that all changes next month, when they’ll reemerge as an expanded unit. Kicking off on July 18th in Vancouver, the trek will see the band hug both the West and East coasts of North America before wrapping up in Chicago on August 15th.

The band’s sophomore effort, Player Piano was recorded in Hawk’s Garden State home, where he remained close with his family as he put the project together. Don’t quote us, but this might explain why Hawk describes the album as a collection of “keyboard-based psychedelic girl group songs.” For an early taste, check out the album track “Wait in the Dark” below.

In celebration of the release, and the forthcoming tour, the band is asking fans for their best mixtapes. Hawk will choose the best top four and winners will receive a Memory Tapes’ Player Piano LP, a t-shirt, a button, and a Player Piano roll of “Wait In The Dark” off the new record. Think you have what it takes? Upload your mix, keeping it just at 30 minutes maximum, to www.soundcloud.com/playerpianocontest by June 24th. Or, if you’re not that ambitious, just catch ‘em on tour.

Player Piano hits streets July 5th via Carpark Records.

Memory Tapes - Wait In The Dark

Memory Tapes 2011 Tour Dates:
07/01 – New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
07/05 – Paris, FR @ Fleche D’Or
07/06 – London, UK @ XOYO
07/07 – Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute
07/08 – Glasgow, UK @ Glasgow Arches
07/18 – Vancouver BC @ Electric Owl
07/19 – Seattle WA @ Chop Suey
07/20 – Portland OR @ Doug Fir
07/21 – San Francisco CA @ Slims
07/23 – Los Angeles CA @ Troubadour
08/09 – Washington DC @ Red Palace
08/10 – Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brendas
08/12 – Montreal QC @ Club Lambi
08/13 – Toronto ON @ Wrongbar
08/15 – Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle