Parquet Courts – Sympathy for Life (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24bit/96kHz | Time – 00:45:05 minutes | 927 MB | Genre: Indie Rock, Art Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rough Trade
Parquet Courts’ thought-provoking rock is dancing to a new tune. Sympathy For Life finds the Brooklyn band at both their most instinctive and electronic, spinning their bewitching, psychedelic storytelling into fresh territory, yet maintaining their unique identity.
Built largely from improvised jams, inspired by New York clubs, Primal Scream and Pink Floyd and produced in league with Rodaidh McDonald (The xx, Hot Chip, David Byrne), Sympathy For Life was always destined to be dancey. Unlike its globally adored predecessor, 2018’s Wide Awake! the focus fell on grooves rather than rhythm.
“Wide Awake! was a record you could put on at a party,” says co-frontman Austin Brown. “Sympathy For Life is influenced by the party itself. Historically, some amazing rock records been made from mingling in dance music culture – from Talking Heads to Screamadelica. Our goal was to bring that into our own music.”
With Wide Awake! (2018) produced by Danger Mouse, Parquet Courts moved further than ever down the chaotic path of postpunk revival, inspired by the ghosts of Jonathan Richman, The Fall, The Feelies, Velvet Undergound and a bit of Pavement. Andrew Savage’s band also had fun changing its vibe with salutary pop sparks and hip-swinging grooves… Produced by Rodaidh McDonald and John Parish (PJ Harvey), Sympathy For Life pushes the envelope ever further, taking in some Talking Heads-style mixes along the way (such as the groovy Plant Life). To concoct this seventh album, the Brooklynites first set about playing some long, long jams before pruning them, creating some finely calibrated songs. This record takes inspiration from the New York club scene of the seventies, notably the Loft, David Mancuso’s cult informal club where Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles and Louie Vega made their names. Parquet Courts also bears the imprint of Primal Scream’s Screamadelica. In the end, there are some strong dance markers, but they never shift the band from a visceral rock vibe. On the contrary: Parquet Courts sets up its 100% garage rock philosophy right in the middle of the dancefloor. It’s invigorating. – Marc Zisman
Tracklist:
1. Walking at a Downtown Pace (04:46)
2. Black Widow Spider (02:50)
3. Marathon of Anger (04:35)
4. Just Shadows (03:56)
5. Plant Life (05:50)
6. Application/Apparatus (04:36)
7. Homo Sapien (02:55)
8. Sympathy for Life (02:50)
9. Zoom Out (03:02)
10. Trullo (03:01)
11. Pulcinella (06:44)
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