Thought I’d take a look at this rather veteran collection of performers to see what they’re up to these days. Parenthetical Girls have recorded music since 2002, though at that point the effort went by the name Swastika Girls. By 2004, it was Christmas with Parenthetical Girls.

In 2008, the group is responsible for the CD Entanglements and is closely connected with “vanity label” Slender Means Society. The instrumentation behind Zac Pennington is provided by Matt Carlson, Rachael Jensen, Eddy Crichton and others. As most reviewers will readily point out, there are no guitars in this group’s sound. But there is plenty of electronic noise and use of chamber-music instruments.

Of great interest to observers of the indie music scene is the similarity between the “amorphous” Parenthetical Girls and the work-in-progress Slender Means Society label. The latter includes at least nine groups/acts and states openly that Final Fantasy and Ribbons are “future members.” Things are always changing. I’ll bet that’s why Parenthetical Girls fits in so well.

The “Girls” may still get their definition from Pennington, who has been called “sexually ambiguous.” (Why did I just think about David Bowie!?)

You’ll probably find the newest effort, Entanglements, a bit different from past collections. Is it great?

It’s probably too soon to tell, but some have stated the CD is a contender for best of 2008.

Parenthetical Girls in a Slender Means Society on MySpace

Tags: indie, independent music, indie music, parenthetical girls in a slender means society, music