Now Limited edition

Southern Los Angeles experimental punk band Mood of Defiance was formed in

Hermosa Beach in 1981, spinning off from a short-lived synthesizer project

called Kindled Imagination, formed in nearby San Pedro (home to The Minutemen)

with drummer Richie Wilder of Saccharine Trust. Teenaged lead singer and band

originator Rachel Morgan, who was known as "Screaming Bitch Rachel" and later,

Hatha Watha, formed MOD with Wilder,

recruiting initial guitarist TA Black and bassist Kevin Ball from a music press

advertisement. Debut demo recordings (eventually issued as 'In A Box') featured

this line-up but after Black and Ball quit the band, they were replaced by Danny

Dean Philips and Gary Kail from the band Anti, moonlighting in this side project

for debut album 'Now', released on Philips' and Kail's aptly-titled New

Underground label in 1982; other band members featured on the disc include

drummer Thaddeus. Opener 'Divided States Of America' set the disc's defiant punk

tone, though 'Sticky Lips' and 'Girl In A Painting' are less caustic, with

broader musical dexterity and post-punk rhythmic references. An important piece

of southern Calfornia punk

history back on vinyl after 38 years.