Wild Balbina

EP: WILD BABINA - SISTERS BEFORE MISTERS

Girl power-infused pop from across the pond.

The first song on Wild Balbina's seven-track album reminds me of the first time I ever heard a song by Teenage Fanclub. It was a Rookie playlist on 8tracks and the song was “The Concept”. A man's voice sang softly over a handful of well-chosen chords: “Says she don't do drugs / But she does the pill.” Cue a triple dose of swooning – I was hooked in an instant, warm fuzzies in my stomach for a boy who could be so clever.  

Sisters Before Misters worked in the exact same way. Opening with a sparse shot of chords, this mini-album quickly settles into its vibe of polished 60s pop meets 90s alt-rock. This time, however, the distorted chord progression didn't make me lust after a crush who would only break my heart: Wild Balbina had me dreaming about the people who I already knew loved me – my best friends. On this release, the four-piece from Vigo, Spain croon their cries of revolution girl style now with too-cool-not-to-care vocals and melodies done à la Wavves. Top tracks include “R.G.S.N”, a pop anthem to cut your buds' bangs to that culminates in a shouting match of "Revolution Girls Now", and “Brainwash”, a closer that gets garage-y Gruesomes style. Despite its soft exterior and brevity, however, “Looking Through You” cuts the deepest, reminding you of the best feelings a close friendship can bring: “Time takes us away / The crashing in / Falling in your hands.” The ultimate soundtrack for a summer night of lip-gloss oriented mischief and bliss, Sisters Before Misters is sweeter than cotton candy, while just as dreamy too.  

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