The dusty songs on Varnaline's debut, Man of Sin are

enough to take your breath away. What will really make you gasp is that all the

sonic swirls and acoustic fuzz are the work of one man, Anders Parker, whose

day job requires occasional membership in the oddly-alluring band Space Needle.

Parker obviously has a lot of crackling music in him that's clawing to get out,

as evidenced on the ragged first track "The Hammer Goes Down," a song set

adrift in the sea of static electricity and misspent energy that threatens to

overtake Parker's lonely voice and short circuit the proceedings. The

lead-footed, molasses drip of "Thorns & Such" prove that Parker has a more

gentle side, until, of course, a creepy electric guitar counter-melody chimes

in and drapes the whole lament in a drizzly cloud. Parker has filled out his

one-man band with his Space Needle partner Jud Ehrbar (drums) and brother John

(bass) for touring purposes in the past, but who knows how he will recreate his

universe of hazy, whiskey and pills-drenched memories and broken promises for

the baby tee and temporary tattoo crowd? Mark it down, Varnaline are my vote

for one of the best bands you'll see on any stage during this year's

festival.