The Morning Benders

Across the globe, folks are trying to reconcile last month’s tragedy in Japan and, even more still, are looking for a way to help. Enter Japan Echo, the for-donation EP from San Fran indie popsters the Morning Benders. The eight-track collection features stellar remixes from the band’s 2010 breakthrough album, as well as two never-before-heard tracks. Star Slinger’s reworking of “Cold War” might be the most delightfully tripped-out of the bunch, but it’s newbie “Better in Blue” that make the biggest impact, with its blown-out drums, trembling synths, and frontman Chris Chu’s signature falsetto, tweaked to resemble the best of last year’s chillwave explosion. Better still, 100 percent of the proceeds from the record will benefit the Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. The band plays SOhO on Thursday, April 14. Visit clubmercy.com for tickets and themorningbenders.com to download.