Celebration

Celebration’s psych-tinged cabaret-punk puts a playful edge on the recycled art-rock aesthetic most other Baltimore bands have adopted of late. Composed of husband-and-wife duo Katrina Ford and Sean Antanaitis (both formerly of noise-punk outfit Jaks) and drummer David Bergander, the trio revels in a more theatrical and experimental approach to its music. After declining a renewal with 4AD, Celebration began posting free mp3s from its Electric Tarot project, with each song representing a specific tarot card. Nine of those tracks were collected for this year’s Hello Paradise, which vastly, but judiciously, expands the textures and moods of 2007’s The Modern Tribe.Masterfully playing in the edges of swooning balladry, stomping acid-rock, and gauzy psychedelia, Hello Paradise finds the band energized and seemingly relishing freedom from music-biz restraints.

Updated 11/30/2011