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Stamen & Pistils: End of the Sweet Parade EP
[Echelon]

I wandered online and found several e-zines more than willing to praise Stamen & Pistils new release, End of the Sweet Parade, but these songs bear out few of the adjectives and descriptors flung in their direction.

End of the Sweet Parade is the first EP from D.C.-based Stamen & Pistils. The band is part of the fairly recent fusion of robotic noises and folk sensibilities, blending electronic beeps and lo-fi piano into folk-pop for the modern era. There is a certain found sound quality in the work, which conjures up images of afternoon bedrooms shut dark against the sun (witness the charming promise of the EPs best track, Hand Painted Characters); but neither of the duo can sing, and their discordant voices would certainly never lull this reviewer to sleep on a lethargic afternoon. Against the fuzzed sound of delicate beats, drums, and the occasional piano, their voices sound grating. Peonies & Dahlia Petals is a good example; one is forced to attempt to tune out the poorly harmonized singing to hear what might be happening with the strumming guitar underneath.

There is untapped possibility in this strange team, though. Had they created an instrumental album, or simply taken voice lessons, this simple EP would be a presage of good things to come. As it stands, the End of the Sweet Parade should be merely a foray. If Stamen & Pistils receives acclaim at some later date, this will be the EP that fans say shows their emerging sound.

Stamen & Pistils Official Website

Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase this album.

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