Darla’s compilations always leave you drained. A combination of label acts and assorted obscure and not-so obscure acts, this 27th volume of treasures is another dizzying array of styles. Pop, punk, noir, ambient, country. Depending on your tastes, you may find yourself skipping a lot of tracks, jumping right online to check out the new acts you hear, or just relaxing and letting all the songs wash over you like a mix from a time when radio wasn’t so compartmentalized.

I guess Mothboy, Harold Budd, Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love and New Radiant Storm King are the “biggest” names here, but acts like Lali Puna, Able, Tiny Magnetic Pets and DJ Hidden leap out as offering hip and poetic music.

Gnac’s cinematic dreamscape mixes nicely with Able’s country-tinged effort. In fact, the entire 2 disc set flows smartly through the jungle of styles. If you stick with the set through its entirety, you’ll be blessed with both a history lesson and a quick take on the pulse of what can be found out there if you dig. Or you can just let Darla, in the endless “Little Darla Has a Treat for You “ series, keep looking for you. 8/10 -- Mike Wood (12 August, 2009)