Dark wave-leaning MXMS are skillfully blurring the line between brooding atmosphere and chart accesibility. Singer Ariel Levitan croons with a lazy drawl reminiscent of Lana del Rey as Jeremy Dawson steadily plays the keys on their recent single "Rx", which adopts a new age sensibility without ceasing to explore the heart’s dark corners. Even the name of the track alludes to industrial veterans Skinny Puppy, though even if the similarities aren’t as obvious there’s still a good chance the duo does has a deep appreciation for gothic poetry. Now they’ve released another curveball in the form of "Anna", a breathy pop track that rumbles with an ominous and eerie feel that truly gets under your skin. The duo find meaning in just the littlest details – how Dawson will raise the tension by slightly changing the course of the track with a soft, intoxicating key stroke to temper Levitan’s threatening, yet seductive voice.
The single compliments their recently released OMG / RX split 7", which is now available via Grand Jury. And make sure to catch them play at House of Blues Anaheim on July 30 before they embark on a small-scale tour that covers most U.S. major cities. – Juan Rodríguez