Strictly Ballroom was a hardcore/post-rock band from Los Angeles, California who formed in 1994 and reformed as Arca around 2000. The band included Brian Tamborello of Embassy, Ochre and Incurable Complaint on drums from 94-95. The band released one 12"/CD, three 7"s, and then a digital discography in 2013 years after their split. They also had tracks on a few compilations.
Strictly Ballroom had a unique sound that's hard to accurately describe. At the time, fans described them as "Enocore" due to their similarities to Brian Eno's soundscaping mixed with the influence of hardcore. Their slow, moody guitar that builds in energy throughout their tracks is very post-rock reminiscent, but their softly sung vocals violently erupt into screams when least expected. In their early releases, they lean more toward the hardcore sound with some post-rock elements, but as they went on they leaned more and more toward the post-rocky sound.
Their focus on soundscaping and complex instrumentals diverged them from most hardcore bands at the time, but they still have some key elements of 90s hardcore. There aren't many bands I'd compare them to. Funeral Diner was another band that merged elements of post-rock with hardcore, but Strictly Ballroom veered much farther toward the post-rock side.
Strictly Ballroom's abrupt transitions between soft and melancholic to raw, passionate screams never cease to give me chills. Their sound was definitely one that blazed a new trail through the hundreds of mediocre hardcore bands in the 90s.
S/T 7" 1995 (Chou-Chou Records)
I Love... 7" 1996 (I Am An Idiot)
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