Darling Violetta - Parlour (CD)

All Music Guide

The base trio augments its sound and style with strings, horns and several bassists, for a set featuring nicely placed EFX, crunching guitar chords and singer, Cami Elen's pop-drenched vocals. Moreover, the band implements a few “Beatles" derived studio techniques, ala “Sgt. Peppers" and “Abbey Road," during selected works.

This outfit has provided soundtracks for TV shows, a PC video game amid videos and so forth. Hence, a component of the musicians' collective artistry that should come as no surprise upon listening to their overall studio savvy. On the piece titled “Candy Jones," the ensemble aims at a crossover approach via a nicely rendered potpourri of softly strumming guitars, horns and strings amid a late 60s, “Beatles" type vibe. As they also intertwine straightforward rockers with discordant musings and hallowed themes. To that end, this band offers a divergent mix, featuring considerably more than your average rockers. Although, few of these pieces contain memorable melodies or catchy hooks, but the group's intelligent game plan yields fruitful dividends, when viewed upon as a whole.

- Glenn Astarita, All Music Guide