Eternal Mood Exorcism Rings

Double Phantom Records put out this 7" by Atlanta band Mood Rings. It offers two slices of spangly psych pop that swims in the waters that Robert Smith might have bathed in had he been a little more cheery. 'Promise Me Eternity' is languid to the point of standing still, awash with shimmering instrumentation that evokes Instagram photos that wash a picnic photo in pastel shades of sunlight. On the flip side "Exorcised Painting' is a short punchy number, the guitar and drums punching through into another realm. Its an ace couple of tracks (particularly enamoured with 'Exorcised Painting'), you get your mitts on it here. Have a listen below and see what you think...

Mood Rings - Promise Me Eternity
Mood Rings - Exorcised Painting

Video Vacuum - Balkans, Family Portrait, Three Trapped Tigers

Well its supposedly winter here in Australia, not that you'd know it. I tried to wear a sweater yesterday for the entire day - lost five pounds. Ah well, there are benefits to living in Brisbane... That doesn't mean that work doesn't suck. It does, righteously. So here are some moving images and loud sounds to get us by for at least 10 more minutes...

We gave a bit of a back slap to the new self-titled album by New Jersey's Family Portrait recently (check it out here). Well, here is a pretty nice video for 'Interlude 1/Never Should've Been There'...

Family Portrait - Interlude I // Never Should've Been There from Behind the Walk-in on Vimeo.

Balkans have been on a serious ride since their self-titled album dropped just a few weeks ago via Atlanta label, Double Phantom Records. Most recently, Spin Magazine chose them as one of their 5 Best New Artists for June and Impose Magazine debuted their new video for "Flowers Everywhere". So those bastarderos beat us to the punch, but so be it?

BALKANS - Flowers Everywhere from Frank Broyles on Vimeo.

Three Trapped Tigers have also had a bit of a run on lately. Now, I wouldn't say this track is their finest, but it's still good, and the video is a cross between 'Money For Nothing' style "breakthrough" animation and Starfox on the Nintendo polygon style "breakthrough" animation - anyway, I liked it... (Plus its worth noting that their album Route One Or Die has just come out - you can buy it here!)



NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

Those Balkans Are Still Troubled

Im really looking forward to this release...

On May 10th, Balkans will release their new debut self-titled album on Double Phantom Records(Carnivores, Roman Photos, Mood Rings). Counting Bradford "The Deerhunter" Cox amongst their local fans, the Atlanta based band quickly impressed themselves on the local scene before releasing several 7″ singles that showed off their palette of musical influences including pop, punk, garage, 60s surf rock and shoegaze.

We have already sampled from the album with 'Edita V' here - 'Troubled and Done' is the second single. There is enough energy and invention fizzing off these guys to set fire to your stained Y-fronts.

Balkans - Troubled And Done

Men Walking Over The Balkans

Edita V/Cave is one helluva energetic 7" from Atlanta dudes Balkans. The A-side reminds me of the energised side of The Walkmen, mostly due to the vocals, but the razor sharp guitar lines is reminiscent of 'The Rat' if you wrench the speed up to breakneck. Balkans are slamming their punk infused guitar pop into the barrier, hurtling their ramshackle vehicle over the edge and into the ravine, gleefully waving as they go down. 'Cave' takes it down a notch - a more meditative, metronomic bounce, like the repercussions of their actions from the previous tracks are just now sinking in. Its an electric introduction, and with their album coming out in May on Double Phantom Records, its enough to have me salivating. They have a couple gigs in their home town supporting the likes of Sic Alps and The Clap before then, so get along and get acquainted, before they enthusiastically tear the world asunder.

Balkans - Edita V

BALKANS - CAVE by Tony Summerlin from Frank Broyles on Vimeo.