Aiding & Abetting by Jon Worley

Monday, March 06th, 2006

Excerpt: It's indescribably delicious.

Radiant Darling
Cryptomnesia
(Tense Forms)

Further proof that Chicago is the center of the musical universe, Radiant Darling blazes forth with an album that’s one part gothic Americana (y’know, Trailer Bride), one part gypsy jazz (they even do a Django Reinhardt piece), one part art rock and, well, lots of other things thrown in.

It all makes for an invigorating blend that is impossible to turn off. These songs spin spells that can’t be broken. Radiant Darling has created an alternate universe that is exceedingly enticing. I might, indeed, want to live here all the time, if I wasn’t scared out of my mind at the prospect of doing so.

The minimalist production really helps here, leaving plenty of space between the mostly acoustic instruments and raucous percussion. I could be wrong, but it sounds like much of the music was recorded in one take. I hear a little bleedover between some of the instruments. If that’s merely a studio trick (or unintended result) I’m just that much more impressed.

It’s old. It’s new. It’s indescribably delicious. And I just can’t say enough.

Contact:
www: http://www.tenseforms.com