Obrigado Saudade

For "Obrigado Saudade" (imperfectly translated from the Brazilian as "Thank You For Being Lovesick"), his fifth album under the Mice Parade name, New York resident Adam Pierce has turned in a delicately introspective and inviting performance, full of fragility, yet displaying a distinctly poppy heart. While Pierce himself plays most of the instruments in his home studio (violin, Cheng, and vibes all make notable contributions), an impressive list of guest contributors leave their dirty paw prints all over this collection. Doug Scharin (HiM, June of 44, ex-Rex) serves up his trademark drumming rhythms on the elegant instrumental "Out Of The Freedom World," but his influence can also be felt burrowing into the album's more dub-flecked creations. "Obrigado Saudade" is an album that will have you checking your collections and asking, "Where have I heard that before?" Not a terribly difficult question -- another glance at the list of collaborators should steer you in the right direction. You will hear a little Tortoise (on "Mystery Bretheren"), a smidgeon of HiM, and a whole load of The Sea and the Cake (the guitar lines throughout echo the string refrains of Sam Prekop and his merry band).