By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

After a brutal, ugly, frigid and all too long winter, Chicago is beginning to thaw. Hints of spring include the crocus pushing through the dirt and returning robins, their red breasts shining. Along with the thaw is a fresh crop of new music from Chicago bands.

Leading the pack is the nearly indescribable “Kontpab” (K) by Mahjongg. A rainforest of rhythms and beats, the disc revs its engine on “Pontiac,” which sounds both tribal and tripped out. “Problems” is a new twist on new wave, while “Kottbusser Torr” may remind some of the Talking Heads’ collaborations with Brian Eno. Dance moves for “Those Birds Are Bats” might include swatting at the air above your head, and “Wipe Out” could be the soundtrack for surfing on Lake Michigan. No doubt temperatures are certain to be affected by the hot, jagged beats of “Mercury.”

Walter Meego take a more “traditional” approach to their technophonic tunes on “Voyager” (Almost Gold). They froth with electro energy, filling the air with colorful bubbles of beats. “Forever” starts out like a vintage Cars tune before driving off in a few different directions at once. Justice will have to watch their backs once people get a load of “Wanna Be A Star,” “Keyhole” and “Lost,” because Walter Meego borrows some of their tricks, turns them inside out and makes them their own. Don’t be surprised if “Girls” becomes the lesbian club anthem of the summer.

Straddling a line between 1960s/1970s psychedelic freak-out and 21st century hip-shaking, Organ Wolf comes roaring back with “I Didn’t Come Here and I’m Not Leaving (So You Can Just Kiss My Ass That’s What You Are)” (organwolf.com). Instrumentals such as the sweet and sticky “Praline Squares” and the rocking “Demon E” do their part to set the retro mood. “Dancing Shoes,” with its horn solo, steps in a seductive direction and “3D Heavy Duty” is just that. “Candy Factory” is a vintage sugar rush that won’t rot your teeth and the brass returns with the dizzying sample swirl of “Seamless.”

How does one improve, or better yet expand on a full-length debut as swell as Canasta’s “We Were Set Up”? By turning the whole kit and caboodle over to remixers to work their magic on the songs, that’s how. “We Were Mixed” (canastamusic.com) presents the entire original disc in its initial order and then tacks on additional remixes of select tracks (“Slow Down Chicago,” for example, get remixed three times). Not surprisingly, Office’s remix of “Impostors” is a standout but, honestly, there’s nothing regrettable about any of the remixes.

Since their relocation to Chicago some years ago, Poi Dog Pondering have become a cherished fixture on the music scene. The assembled ensemble for their latest recording, “7” (Platectonic Music), bring these dynamic songs to life in the most refreshing ways. “Perfect Music” sounds like a spiritual, so don’t be surprised if you feel the need to testify. “Lemon Drop Man” is one of the most exhilarating and vehement anti-drug songs you are likely to hear. And how many songs do you know of that make reference to both Wicker Park (Milwaukee Ave.) and Skokie in the same line? “Butterflies” is nothing short of seductive and “From This Moment On” is what occurs when the seduction is a success. “Rusted Weather” and “Baby Together” (hey, that rhymes) is PDP at their most soulful, while “Heaven Only Knows” only reinforces the love theme of the disc. PDP is also known for getting listeners out of their seats and moving their feet in rhythm and “Outta Yer Head” and “Candy” get that done.

Never too early to rev up the 1990s music revival, Painkiller Hotel does a groovy job of finding something to like about that long-gone decade on their disc “Black Roses” (Severe).

The Audition, on the other hand, must not have gotten the memo about emo. It’s no longer anything to get all worked up about, as they do on their carbon copy of an album “The Audition” (Victory).