by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The members of Chicago's Dehd stay busy. Led by Jason Balla (Ne-Hi, Earring) and Emily Kempf (Vail), the band (rounded out by Eric McGrady) are constantly releasing music in one project or another. Dehd released their full length debut late last summer and the band are back with Fire Of Love, a brand new EP set for release this March via Infinity Cat's consistently awesome cassette subscription series (curated with love by Casey Weissbuch). As busy as they may be though, Dehd haven't forgotten about life's simple pleasures, particularly holding hands with your crush. You just don't hear a lot of songs about holdings hands these days, but allow Dehd to remedy that with new single, "Holding".
Built on minimal post-punk rhythms and garage pop jangle, the song would be obnoxiously cute if it didn't sound a bit sinister, thanks in no small part to the deep bleeding bass line and haunting reverb. Balla's vocals are exaggerated and unfurled (in a way that reminds me of The B-52s) as he asks "do you understand, I just want to hold your hand" over a bed of angular pop guitars and sparse drums. It's a moment of warm feelings and adorable sentiments (as is the repeated "holding" mantra) amid a record that spends the majority of its run time in the post-punk depths.
Dehd's Fire of Love is due out March 10th via Infinity Cat Records.