Who? Rings is Nina Mehta (guitar/keys), Abby Portner (drums), and Kate Rosko (guitar/keys), a New York-based fem-folk trio which congealed in June 2006. Using each other's apartments as venues for their music, the group recently upgraded to a practice space in Brooklyn where they could pen the songs for Black Habit. Former Múm vocalist Kria Brekkan produced the eight-song full-length LP, which drops via the Paw Tracks label Jan. 15.
What's the Deal? Like their fellow labelmates Animal Collective, Rings' cacophonic sound isn't easily categorized. Black Habit is a delightfully disconnected mish mash of acoustic guitars, drums, piano, and random noise a plenty; eerie screeching, breathy crying, barking dogs also filter through Mehta's anxious delivery. With sparse, Joanna Newsom-like vocals, "All Right Peace" opens with a wispy riff that could be taken right out of the Isaac Brock playbook. "Double Thanks," with its stringy harmonies echoing through a synthesizer, will leave you haunted.
Fun Fact: Rings is a band on shoestring budget; the first amplifier used for their piano was a stereo receiver.
Now Hear This:
Rings - "Mom Dance" DOWNLOAD MP3
On the Web:
Rings at MySpace
Talk: Will you ring in the New Year with Rings?
