Album Notes

Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (Mark S. Tucker) -
"Orpheum Bell saunters an elegant tightrope between old days and new, progressive as hell while firmly rooted. Beautifully packaged, quietly dark eleganza showcasing extremely attractive chops and trad vocals set in renewed context....everything about it speaking of considered compositions, veteran experience, and literate lyricism drawn from elder days and almost nihilistic thoughts."

http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p05234.htm

Victory Music (Hilary Field) -
"This band defies classification. With instrumentation that includes violin, banjo, upright bass, percussion, accordion, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, musical saw and vocals, Orpheum Bell is brimming with talent, imagination, ethnic variety and soul. Merrill Hodnefield opens the CD with her sultry and silky vocals, quietly transporting the listener into a musical world where acoustic roots, classical sensibilities and gypsy jazz meet head on and swirl into a beautiful whirlwind of sound. The instrumentals, particularly “Two over Ten,” showcase the enormous talent of this varied group of musicians, interweaving old world traditions with a contemporary edge. The sense of contrast is heightened when Aaron Klein’s vocals make an appearance, with a voice that is as raspy around the edges as Hodnefield’s is velvety. Together the collective members of Orpheum Bell bring all these elements together in a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience."

http://victorymusic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97:orpheum-bell-pretty-as-you-2009-03&catid=8:music-review-folk&Itemid=78