Radiant Darling - Cryptomnesia (Tense Forms Records) [audio] [upcoming shows]
It’s difficult not to compare Radiant Darling to The Arcade Fire, Bjork, or even Squirrel Nut zippers. There are two reasons for this: Ami Saraiya has a torch singer quality reminiscent of both Billie Holliday (in sound and attitude) and Nico (attitude only); and the music is mostly rickety, ethereal, Old World and acoustic. While there’s nothing incredibly new on this CD, the exotic South Asian trip-hop beats and Indian chanting on “Versadh” are a nice touch, and Saraiya’s voice really does grab the imagination. - karen m.