Altered Zones

Last year, the group formerly known as Teen Inc.-- now as Inc.-- put out one of our favorite 7"s of the year, Fountains / Friend of the Night. The LA band's core, made up of brothers Andrew and Daniel Aged, got their start in the studio as session musicians, and it showed. Every part of "Fountains" screamed virtuosity; the band truly relished in tossing listeners' ears around with the track's "This Must Be The Place" synth bends, soaring guitar solo, and rhythmic shifts. But in their latest offering, a song from their 3 12" EP on 4AD called "Swear", their proficiency shines through with subtlety. The short, unexpected pauses have been toned down, and gone are the outrageous instrumental solos (though there is a short Zapp and Roger-esque vocal solo). What Inc. are really showing here is a restraint that pulls in new listeners close, and already converted obsessors even closer. --Ric Leichtung, Altered Zones via The Fader

MP3: Inc.: "Swear"

Inc.'s 3 12" EP comes out July 26th on 4AD

--Previously