The debut longplayer from Washington, DC-based Ekko Astral is a complex mesh of bubblegum noise punk and no-wave art rock that holds an elastic space for the knotty, tangled horrors of living in the imperial core. Their songs thrash with intense, necessary defiance against codified gender-based violence, their distortion and sibilance a direct response to the dangers outside our front doors. pink balloons opener “head empty blues” specifically bites back against the terrors of the normative male gaze that dominates so much of American culture. Over a post-punk passage that plays call and response with a wall of harsh noise, frontwoman Jael Holzman belts playfully morbid details of the head-exploding anxieties that haunt her daily: “is it bon eye-ver or bon iver? / i don’t care / i’ve got stalkers outside / not going out tonight / gonna sit and take pics / in my underwear.” Holzman formed the band in 2021 with best friend Liam Hughes (guitar), and eventually rounded out the band’s lineup with Miri Tyler (drums), Guinevere Tully (bass), and Sam Elmore (guitar). Ekko Astral’s local scene quickly welcomed the band for their wildly fierce live presence, emboldened by the community-building message behind the band’s mascara mosh pit brand. Ultimately, Ekko Astral are here to uplift, a mission exemplified by the frenetic and bewitching pre-release singles “baethoven” and “devorah,” cornerstones of pink balloons in both style and theme. The former serves as a reminder to keep your larger than life personality in a world that wants to downsize you, where the latter proclaims urgent solidarity with missing and murdered people. Such crucial messages of upliftment are the foundation of pink balloons, and, by extension Ekko Astral, whose thrashing debut leaves no stone of solidarity unturned.
Release date:
June 7, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Hunx and His Punx Walk Out On This World
Get Better Records
August 22, 2025 -
Primal Fear Domination [2xLP]
Reigning Phoenix Music America, LLC
September 5, 2025 -
Hot Chip Joy In Repetition [2xLP]
Domino Record Co
September 5, 2025 -
Chick Corea Trilogy 3 [2xLP]
Candid
September 12, 2025 -
Wavves Spun (Yellow)
Many Hats Dist
August 1, 2025 -
Public Enemy Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025
Enemy Records
October 10, 2025 -
Warren Zevon My Ride's Here Emerald
Friday Rights Management Llc
October 3, 2025 -
Joviale Mount Crystal (Blue)
Ghostly Int'l
September 12, 2025 -
Kieran Hebden 41 Longfield Street Late '80s
Temporary Residence
September 19, 2025 -
Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend (Light Blue)
Island
August 29, 2025 -
Trapper Schoepp Osborne
Blue Elan
September 19, 2025 -
Jeff Tweedy Twilight Override [3xLP]
Dbpm Records
September 26, 2025 -
Belinda Carlisle Once Upon A Time In California (Picture)
Demon / Edsel
August 29, 2025 -
Tops Bury the Key (Green/Yellow)
Ghostly Int'l
August 22, 2025