Solitarium

Truly, something special is stirring in the Southern states. Within weeks of Dwight Twilley's immaculate Tulsa taking up residence in the CD bay along comes the debut album by Texas-based Darin, again courtesy of Castle's newly-formed Power Pop outlet When!

The Darin in question is Darin Murphy, an irritatingly talented individual (and brother of Country artist Trish) who not only plays virtually every instrument on this record but displays a breadth of songwriting akill which sees him glide effortlessly from Power Pop, through jagged, psychedelic Folk and also occasionally venturing into alt.Country territory.

An occasional collaborator with Austin's inspirational Cotton Mather, the opening trio 'Funky Flying Chair', 'She's Better Than Me' and 'Sermon On Mars' certainly show that Darin shares that act's fondness for Brit Invasion directness. But it's when he shifts into more idiosyncratic areas that this album's true treasures are revealed.

'So You Think' reveals a sharp lyrical sense ("So you think you know me/Just because I got stoned with you/Because we like a couple of movies and a couple of records"), 'Big Pink Glasses' travels down a comically surreal path and 'Prison Break' marries a plea for emotional involvement to an insidious melody.

Guitar-driven, yet not bounded by strictly Power Pop parameters, Darin's Solitarium is a grower graced with genuine greatness . . .