If Rykarda Parasol (http://www.rykardaparasol.com) isn't hired by Tim Burton or David Lynch for soundtrack work soon, she should be.
With her deep, husky voice, Parasol is almost the reincarnation of Nico, the late female vocalist who sang icy, gloomy chamber rock with the passion of a torch singer. While Parasol's music doesn't have the European flavors that Nico had a preference for, it's just as sultry and dark.
"En Route" features creepy organs and pummeling drum sounds; however, it is Parasol's smoke-baked voice that makes the track boom through the speakers. If Siouxsie Sioux had stripped the Banshees of their synthesizers and appetite for danceable rhythms, she would've produced something like "En Route." This is American Gothic in its most compelling form. On "Lonesome Place," Parasol aims for the blues, and she nails it.
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For those not used to rock & roll served black, "Here She Comes" can be a depressing experience. This is not a cheerful listen yet it has an ominous beauty that is difficult to ignore. Parasol's vocals draw you in to her black planet. Like Nick Cave, she'll turn you on while turning the lights off.
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