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Single Reviews
Single Review: The Kills – Black Balloon (Domino)
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 23 March 2009
I’ve always filed The Kills next to The Thrills, adopting a CD filing system based on rhyme. Not that these two bands have anything in common, but with The Thrills currently out of record contact, I think The Kills are my favourite ‘ill band’ of the moment, despite the lack of wispy whimsy in anything from the minds of Alison Mosshart and that bloke dating Kate Moss. ‘Black Balloon’ is no different, it’s a menacing song of naked darkness, stripped to its essentials and therefore forcing every note and every beat and every ‘aah’ to be noticed. There may be handclaps, but they’re not the sort of joyous celebration claps you might get with The Shins, this is the ominous beat of the playground as the kids call for a fight. Something bad is about to happen. Though with Mosshart bringing the angels to hell with her vocals, while this is a record free of positivity, it’s simmering in beauty. Frankly, listening to it is a thrill. TM
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