Album of the Month: Screen Vinyl Image “Strange Behavior”

Arlington VA’s darkwave duo Screen Vinyl Image emerge again with electronic shoegaze splendor in Strange Behavior (released Dec 2011.) IMO, Kim and Jake Ried are at the top of the leader-board when it comes to their genre, and after a listen- I think the SVI audience would agree.

One could simply spin this entire record at a Goth Prom night and have the place jumping with doom & gloom in SVI’s catchy rhythms as heard in "Revival", a gothic boom layered in pumping beats and fuzzy guitars. And "Rx" hits even darker notes, welcoming a good ol’fashioned blood rave.

"Stay Asleep" gets beautiful with lush guitars oozing over that beat that keeps you swaying on the dancefloor, before pushing through into another realm of intoxicating synth swirls and hallucinogenic vocal reverbs. Acoustic guitars come in on "My Confession" as Jake’s echoes melt into the atmosphere that remains from "Stay Asleep." Chilling yet soothing, and dark as all hell. –Dawn