When the bandmembers of Parcels left New South Wales, Australia for Berlin in 2014, they were just five kids looking to make their next big move after graduating high school. Four years later they are well on their way to becoming the next big thing in Popular music. Comprised of Louie Swain (keys), Patrick Hetherington (keys), Noah Hill (bass), Anatole “Toto” Serret (drums), and Jules Crommelin (guitar), Parcels is a group project in the best sense of the concept. Self-produced, and self-written, Parcels has marked their debut album as their “truest possible representation…as people, as musicians, and as a group” currently.
While the self-titled album has obvious roots in Dance music, Parcels also has noticeably heavy influences from Disco, Funk, and Indie Folk Pop. To put it plainly, if Daft Punk, The Bee Gees, and Steely Dan had a love child, the result would be Parcels. While Parcels two previous EP’s Clockscared (2015) and Hideout (2017) had relied heavily on down-tempo electronic beats and synthetic production, Parcels feels much more organic and it’s apparent the band’s soul searching has resulted in something truly eclectic.
Parcels opens with the track “Comedown” – a simple little ditty that combines a Daft Punk-esque backtrack with funky guitar riffs, and a hook that easily sticks in your head for days. It’s a genius opening song since it sets the tone for the rest of the album by giving the listener a sample of what’s to come as well as leaving them wanting more. From there it transitions into Parcels newest single “Lightenup”, which sounds like an anthem for the bands plans to reinvent electro-pop. The first verse states with conviction, “Every eye is on us, Every side is on ours, Singing with pride and promise”, which is exactly what Parcels does on this album.
The shining star of the album is the fifth track “Everyroad”, which truly proves to be a successful experiment in imagery. A majority of the song is spoken word set to a funky and soulful, electronic rhythm that builds upon itself as the band members describe their idealistic physical and/or mental paradise, depending on how it’s interpreted. The audience is painted an extremely descriptive scene that accentuates the dreaminess of the fantasy they’re perpetuating. In the end, “Everyroad” is most easily categorized as an emotional rollercoaster with hard-hitting bass drops, and delicate refrains.
In between the power singles, are seventies folk and disco pop inspired love songs and personal self-examinations-all of which, seem to be produced with goal of getting the audiences’ bodies moving. Even the saddest, slowest songs on the album, such as “Withorwithout”, and “Yourfault”, will get the listener swaying in a melancholic kind of way. The album ends with “Bemyself’ – an airy pop jam, which at its core is a promise that the band will continue to embrace their uniqueness as a band, as well as individually.
Overall, it’s a refreshing album based on an honest reflection of the group’s aspirations, and personal struggles. With seamless transitions, and self-contained singles Parcels is an album worth buying for anyone looking for an album you can dance, cry, and feel invincible to. From cruising, to chilling, Parcels does a great job of providing a diverse, alternative dance pop album without becoming tired.
