October 15, 2004

Various Artists "Little Darla has a Treat For You, V. 22"

Just in time for Fall, Darla Records offers up the latest installment of their Little Darla Has A Treat For You series. Not so much a compilation as it is a sampler of all the good things the label/distribution company has to offer, I have yet to be disappointed by any of these fun budget compilations, and volume twenty-two does not disappoint. It's fascinating to see the label going in all sorts of stylistic directions without stretching itself too thin.

From the brooding psychedelic country of Maquiladora and Lowlights to the upbeat new wave pop of Freezepop, the sad folk of Anna Domino and Pale Horse and Rider to the detatched electronica of Manual and the out and out relentless weirdness of Crispy Ambulance, Darla has very little room for tradition or uniformity of style. Of all the songs on this little collection, my favorites would have to be The Naysayer's fokly take on Mr. Rogers' "Good People (Sometimes Do Bad Things)," Freezepop's remix of "Parlez-Vous Freezepop?" and the album's biggest surprise, unknown The Russian Futurist's "Two Dots On A Map," whose sound sounds a lot like vintage Polyphonic Spree--only better.

Little Darla Has a Treat For You Volume 22 is a fun, interesting collection that will surprise and entertain you with each listen. Dig in!

--Joseph Kyle

Label Website: http://www.darla.com

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