Southern Los Angeles experimental punk band Mood of Defiance was formed inHermosa Beach in 1981, spinning off from a short-lived synthesizer projectcalled Kindled Imagination, formed in nearby San Pedro (home to The Minutemen)with drummer Richie Wilder of Saccharine Trust. Teenaged lead singer and bandoriginator 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 pressadvertisement. Debut demo recordings (eventually issued as 'In A Box') featuredthis line-up but after Black and Ball quit the band, they were replaced by DannyDean Philips and Gary Kail from the band Anti, moonlighting in this side projectfor debut album 'Now', released on Philips' and Kail's aptly-titled NewUnderground label in 1982; other band members featured on the disc includedrummer Thaddeus. Opener 'Divided States Of America' set the disc's defiant punktone, though 'Sticky Lips' and 'Girl In A Painting' are less caustic, withbroader musical dexterity and post-punk rhythmic references. An important pieceof southern Calfornia punkhistory back on vinyl after 38 years.