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Rings

Who? Rings is Nina Mehta (guitar/keys), Abby Portner(drums), and Kate Rosko (guitar/keys), a New York-based fem-folk triowhich congealed in June 2006. Using each other’s apartments as venuesfor their music, the group recently upgraded to a practice space inBrooklyn 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 Habitis 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 riffthat could be taken right out of the Isaac Brock playbook. “DoubleThanks,” with its stringy harmonies echoing through a synthesizer, willleave 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?