The Parlor – Remember How (2023)
For just over a decade (according to Spotify, that is), husband-wife duo The Parlor have been sharing a unique, ethereal form of psychedelic pop with the masses. This is my introduction to The Parlor, but they have received critical acclaim across the globe with coverage from Obscure Sound, Atwood Magazine, American Pancake, Culture Collide, Pitchfork, and AudioFemme to name but a few. Named after a room in the 19th-century farmhouse where they reside, farm and compose, the US-based pair breathe a gentle whimsy into vulnerable, profound singles. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Remember How’.
Hot on the heels of their well-received singles ‘Serpentine’ and ‘Restless Life’, ‘Remember Me’ is less delicate with a hard-hitting psychedelic rock vibe. While previous singles bring a fragile airiness to our ears, ‘Remember Me’ steps away from the light fragility into an obscure distortion of sound. A collision of pounding drums with bold guitars and wistful vocals, this new song is entirely unique and inimitable. Tossing you into a sonic whirlpool twirling about in a kaleidoscopic haze, listening to ‘Remember Me’ is like going on a sonic acid trip without any acid.
As much as the single is enjoyable in a mind-altering way, it has a sense of disconcerting discomfort. The eclectic psychedelic mish-mash of sound is whimsical and sets your soul alight; however, a chaotic frenzy exists within the melody. It does not come at you at a whiplash speed but washes over you, seeping into your skin while you try to find your way. The thing is, you just don’t and must accept ‘Remember Me’ for the insatiable loss of control that it is.
While the melody itself can be profound, the theme brings a true depth to ‘Remember Me’. Taken from their upcoming album You Are Love And I Am You, ‘Remember Me’ is a philosophical tune following the mantra of “living for life’s sake”. It is about trust and self-discovery as we “grow because we are meant to”; however, it also has that burning melancholy flooding the melody with repressed emotion. Letting go of the dream you have for yourself and growing into the self you have always been inside.
For more from The Parlor, check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
