It's not too surprising that Parker and Lilly, for the most part, are completely under the radar with the release of their record Hello Halo. It is a very subtle and quiet record, on a low-profile label (Orange), and New York has been too absorbed by the cheesiness of glorified boy band The Strokes to really pay attention to anything else. Too bad, because Hello Hallo is a very strong release possessing the wonderful otherworldly moodiness of a neo-noir soundtrack. In my book, Parker and Lily are one of the most impressive bands to emerge from New York in some time.

The Duo consisting of Parker Noon and Lily Wolf have been regular fixtures at the Cooler, the Knitting Factory, CBGB, the Mercury Lounge and thankfully are beginning to generate a moderate buzz for themselves having recently been showered with positive reviews from other New York-based media.

Their debut, Hello Halo is a wonderfully dark journey through slide guitar-accentuated pop. Part Pram, part Galaxy 500, Parker and Lily are generating their own unique style of dreamy and sexy slowcore. Like a less bass-heavy Portishead, Parker and Lily use minimal electronic beats to drive their jazzy and romantic music. Parker Noon's vocal are reminiscent of the Magnetic Fields, only at a whisper. Lily Wolf's melodic keyboard playing (often using a xylophone effect) is as warm and fuzzy as down comforter on a chilly night.

Things Hello Halo evokes:
Low rent tenements, velvet red curtains, David Lynch, cigarettes shared naked in a sweat-drenched bed, shadowy hallways, 3AM, silent snow-filled streets, a flickering candle....

Hell you get the picture. Like this kind of warm moodiness? You'll like the record. I did.

Orange has provided some MP3's and Real Audio here.

--Robert Lanham

   
Free Williamsburg© | 93 Berry Street | Brooklyn, NY 11211
mail@freewilliamsburg.com | February 2002 | Issue 23
Please send us submissions