Agent Ribbons

Reconciling slinky Eartha Kitt vocals with the whimsical post-punk of Dolly Mixture, Agent Ribbons carved its identity through “Victorian punk,” a spare, garage-pop approach laced with nostalgic irony. Guitarist and vocalist Natalie Gordon launched the project alongside drummer and vocalist Lauren Hess in Sacramento, California during 2006. Leaning on ’60s-tinged guitar lines and pounding, cave-like drums, Gordon’s hypnotic singing anchors the sound while Hess contributes subtle harmonic layers. Their first full-length, On Time Travel and Romance, appeared as a self-released effort in 2006 and highlighted the group’s skill for delivering lyrics that balanced playfulness with a sharply ironic edge. In 2007 the band supported campy alt-rockers Cake on tour, drawing notice for its raw, theatrical stage presence and clearing the path for the 7-inch singles Agent Ribbons and the Star-Crossed Doppelganger and Your Love Is the Smallest Doll, issued in 2007 and 2009. Violinist, cellist, and vocalist Naomi Cherie joined in 2009, contributing graceful instrumental touches to the overall blend until her exit in fall 2010. That same year the trio toured with Scottish twee-pop specialists Camera Obscura, moved its base to Austin, Texas, and issued the follow-up album Chateau Crone. Produced by Manny Nieto (the Breeders, HEALTH), the record examined romantic experiences through the viewpoints of various women, its opening track “I’m Alright” later appearing in an episode of the hit fantasy series The Vampire Diaries in early 2011.