“The masterminds of a cacophony of sound created when combining the unlikely trio of ukulele, steel drums and upright bass, The Splashing Pearls are the mad scientists of music. A fun 12 track album that probably isn’t supposed to work on paper, overwhelmingly does when these three are in control of the instruments and it is amazing. The Splashing Pearls’ latest release will catch your ear and uplift your spirit while skillfully telling stories that cover a broad range of topics. With an undeniably unique vibe and a standout vocalist in Larkin Salemi who possesses both a fresh, youthful tone and a soulfulness that could be compared to Pink or Amy Winehouse, The Splashing Pearls‘Tabloid Tales achieves what it sets out to do and is one of the more enjoyable indie releases to date this year.”

“Beginning with “Richman’s Arcade,” the message is straight to the point: we are one large carnival whose role it is to play the game until someone comes to collect what little we own. While this is a large statement, by fantastically telling the story through the eyes of the machine, it adds a satirical twist to the larger picture. Peter Scobell delivers this song with a touch of comedy in his voice while Larkin adds pizzazz to the effort. In the next track “Voodoo Love,” Larkin continues to add zing with a lot of Caribbean flavor as she tells a tale of black magic love that ensnares. But soon Peter pops back in with “Mr. Splitsville” the man who can’t hang around long enough to get caught by the bait. There may be some who don’t believe in a Wizard of Oz, but there is one for Larkin in “Emerald City” and she sings about him. It’s a well-organized song that holds together smoothly, and you just might want to go back to that contour drawing and fill it in wit”

“And for self-described "indie island folk rock" group The Splashing Pearls, this sense of being a part of some larger melodic foundation is what gives their songs such an earnest and relatable sense of intimacy. They know that they would be nowhere without their pop influences, but they're also not bound by them in any direct manner. On their recent release, "Tabloid Tales," the band combines the languid rhythms of folk music with the driven intent of punk music—with maybe more than a bit of pop's ebullient melodies—and comes away with something distinctly drawn from their influences but not weighed down by those same sounds. You wouldn't think that this particular melding of genres would work as well as it does, but the band has managed to fashion a deliriously infectious group of songs whose dedication to the art of storytelling is an intrinsic part of these "tales of love, lust, greed, hurt and fun"—at least that's how the band puts it, and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with”

“With a distinctive sound courtesy of the odd trio of ukulele, steel drums and upright bass, the self-proclaimed “indie island folk rock” group the Splashing Pearls is releasing their latest record, Tabloid Tales, on April 28.”

“You know, too much angst in a lady’s life can bring her down, so I’m never sorry to see something with a bit of pep in it’s step rove it’s way on to my radar. This week, my injection of joy is coming courtesy of The Splashing Pearls, a three piece from Delaware, and their latest single Voodoo Love.”

"A folk-punk aesthetic with hints of Afro-Caribbean influences is what the very interesting The Splashing Pearls give us with their latest single "Voodoo Love", which we are proud to premiere exclusively on the AU review. With the powerful voice of singer Larkin Salemi driving the animated instrumental, the dynamic sound the band showcases a boundless creative streak that'll likely lead to much more great, fun releases this year."

“As The Splashing Pearls sing their first note at Sully's Irish Pub this Saturday, many patrons will automatically notice there's something peculiar about the Bear-based trio. That's probably because it'll be the first time they see a three-piece where the frontwoman (Larkin Salemi) sings and handles steel drums at the same time, as her uncle (Peter Scobell) simultaneously plays drums (with his feet) and ukulele (with his hands, of course), while the final member of the outfit (Cooke Harvey) performs a mix of pizzicato and bow styles on upright bass. But the outfit's distinctness doesn't end there. The Pearls — which intertwine genres of island folk-rock, blues and pop, meshed with Salemi's soulful voice — do something most bands in the state avoid at gigs: "We only play original stuff," beamed Harvey. The trio's songs are penned by Scobell and include light to serious tales ranging from relationships with people to "relationships with drinking," he smiled.”

“The island / folk rock trio of Peter Scobell (vocals, guitar, ukulele, etc.), his niece Larkin Salemi (vocals, steel drums, percussion) and longtime friend Cooke Harvey (vocals and bass) formed after an impromptu jam session grew into a unique band of mixed influences and instruments. The Splashing Pearls have released three CDs since their official start in 2011, most recently pleasing fans with Stories From the Bottle. The Delaware band was nominated in five categories for their hometown station WSTW’s annual Homey Awards, taking home trophies for Album of the Year and Bass Player of the Year.”