as reviewed by mr. esq.

gypsy cabaret/chamber folk/neo-show tunes
this is the single most beautiful thing i have heard (here or elsewhere) the entire year.
i originally heard these guys on rhymes w/ ALEX.
(we don't have a copy of the 'bright bright bright' e.p. .
a damn shame =i have to bring my own copy.)
dark dark dark is a sextet from minneapolis by way of new york by way of new orleans=they're gypsies!!
all kinds of instruments(clarinet, trombone, accordian, etc. heavy on the piano) &there's a chorus.
nona marie invie is the shining star of dark dark dark.
one of the most beautiful voices. varrry... hypnotic.
as is the whole thing: it really draws you in.
this is music to play for a play. thematically&musically, it is a play. it really deserves a listen as a whole. i am not a fan of show tunes, cabaret, or ensemble folk, but this is gorgeous.
(play now...play now...playyyy....SUGGESTIONS: ANYTRACK=GOODTRACK....but...you should play 4...then play 6...then play 5...then... play 1, 2, 8, 9, 10. no particular order.)
FCC CLEAN.


*1. the most show tuney of the bunch. circle hum mal vox chorus kicks it off. finger snaps. accordion.
*2. very windy atmosphere. sad piano starts. she sings, in come the strings. moving&epic. 'ooo ooo ooo ooo' -but it's haunty.
a drone builds up from the middle. sad stuff.
3. mal vox. sad string plucks. then the whole sextet kicks in. sounds like an electric git. she starts singing along with him. 'ooo oh, owooo' maudlin. light tinkly piano end.
*4. BEST TRACK: it's beautiful&you should play it now!
(just trust mr. esq.: you'll fall in love.) it's got a lil' squeezebox&chorus.
*5. ALMOST BEST TRACK: she sounds so sweet! piano&triangle&horns&subdued percussion.
*6.BEST TRACK II (it's a tie!): and now, it grows dark. the most hypnotic of all. very orchestrated. haunty chorus. builds speed in the middle, but ever so slightly. it ends sad anyway.
7. mal vox. this time he's happy! (it's a happy song!)she starts singing, kinda girl groupy at first, then he&she sing together, the call&response. heavy snares drumming. ends on vocals.
*8 it's sad. piano&her voice. chorus vocals are almost wisps.
*9. it's happy. a waltz? sounds like it could be from the 20's.
*10. the sad piano. her voice...it conjures visions of the tundra. cooing ghost chorus. the orchestra is very subtle. tracking around&around. sad stuff. (warning:you may cry.)