“Electroacoustic harpist Zeena Parkins, who has collaborated with folks like Anthony Braxton and Yoko Ono and released a beautiful but overlooked LP last year called Between The Whiles, debuted compositions with her new trio, The Adorables. During her stint teaching at Mills College, she met young percussionist Shayna Dunkelman and electronicist Preshish Moments. The Adorables? Presious Moments? I know what you’re thinking, and, no, this is not an avant-twee trio fusing Belle and Sebastian with AMM. However, like Björk, another one of Parkins’ past accomplices, The Adorables cleverly coupled pop and experimentation.

They’d be comfortable on a bill with indie acts like Skeletons, tUnE-YarDs, and Gang Gang Dance, as Dunkelman’s propulsive percussive work adds a sophisticated momentum to the ethereal, highly-detailed pieces. Her dialogue on vibes — which at one point she played by dropping plastic coat-hangers on the keys — with Parkin’s EBow’d and processed, bird-like harp scribbles was a particularly sparkly, lovely, and spiraling exchange. Space was emphasized, with Moments’ hi-frequency zones transitioning between soft beds of texture and evolving tones whose volumes gradually, sometimes punishingly, increased. While the first stage of sleep was sometimes tickled by the tranquil layers of sound, there were noisy interludes that made the Merzbow-Wolf Eyes-Pinhas set from the previous night seem mellow in comparison.

This project stands a chance at breaking through to fans of both “serious music” and pop, maybe. But, unfortunately, The Adorables most likely will not be packing their rucksacks and trekking the club circuit. They’ll be playing in New York City on June 25 as part of the Undead Jazz Fest, though hopefully they won’t limit themselves to just the jazz and high-brow crowds for long. As my friend said after the set, “That was everything I want music to be right now.” I agreed.”

link to the whole article:
http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/fimav-2011

• Artist: Zeena Parkins and the Adorables
• Date: Thursday, May 12th 2011
• Time: 8:00pm
• City: Zeena Parkins and the Adorables in Brooklyn
• Venue: Issue Project Room
• Address: The (OA) Can Factory 232 3rd Street, 3rd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11215
• Venue phone: 718-330-0313
• Country: United States
• Admission: $20
• Box office: 718-330-0313
• Notes: Table of the Elements – TotE from A-Z: Zeena Parkins + M2 (Roger Miller & Ben Miller) + Agathe Max + Ateleia
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Zeena Parkins and the Adorables are hitting the road to play the Victoriaville Jazz festival, May 21st. The smile on Mikey’s face on this pic is priceless.
http://www.fimav.qc.ca/en/artists/fimav2011/09/

We are also playing for the Table of the Elements festival during the previous week. More info to come….

• Artist: Zeena Parkins and the Adorables
• Date: Saturday, May 21st 2011
• Time: 1:00pm
• City: Zeena Parkins and the Adorables in Victoriaville
• Venue: Cinéma Laurier
• Address: 150, rue Notre-Dame Est
• Venue phone: 1-819-752-7912
• Country: Canada
• Admission: $24
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Box office: 1-819-752-7912
• Notes: CANADIAN PREMIERE A darling of the FIMAV and its audience, ZEENA PARKINS is back with a brand new trio featuring electronician PRESHISH MOMENTS, and percussionist SHAYNA DUNKELMAN. An opportunity to hear this master of the electroacoustic harp breaking new ground.
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Zeena Parkins and the Adorables are going to play in the international music festival in Victoriaville! Stay tuned for more news….(their website is not up to date yet).

http://www.fimav.qc.ca/en/