Parlour Steps “The Hidden Names” (Nine Mile Records, 2009)

Delightful Canadian Power Pop

Parlour Steps are a Canadian five piece indie-pop band from Vancouver, British Columbia and “The Hidden Names” is one the most delightful albums to be released in 2009.

Led by vocalist, guitarist and founder Caleb Stull, all thirteen tracks on “The Hidden Names” follow the same basic pattern of Strull's emotive voice over strong rhythms before being joined with the harmony vocals of Julie Bavalis or Alison Maira. Far from being a collection of repetitive formulaic pop songs Parlour Steps have created a series of mini epics, each with it’s own elegant touch to differentiate from the previous track; there are horns on “Soft Lies”, strange electronic noises at the beginning and end of “Ring That Bell”, vocals from (what seem as) as far back in the studio as possible on “Bad Math”.

With an album as good as this it is little wonder that it made the “best of 2009” lists.

Date review added:  Sunday, January 31, 2010
Reviewer:  John Hawes
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  Artist Website