Once the marketing punchline has been forgotten, we can savour without hindrance Collapsed in Sunbeams, a brilliant debut album that slaloms between vaporous R'n'B, light pop and neo trip hop. Without doubt the deepest record of early 2021...
Arlo Parks - Hope (Official Video)
ArloParksVEVOBefore writing songs, the Londoner of Chadian, French and Nigerian origins was mainly writing poetry. A big fan of Sylvia Plath, Ginsberg and Nabokov, she was quickly drawn into writing. Telling stories - often her own - even before setting them to music. With its title plucked from the pages of Zadie Smith's novel On Beauty, Collapsed in Sunbeams emphasises this literary passion, which she has now completely turned to music.
Arlo Parks - Black Dog (Official Video)
ArloParksVEVOShe tackles break-up (Caroline), unrequited love (Eugene) or addiction (Hurt) with finesse and acuity. Her bittersweet melodies confront often melancholic, sometimes sad lyrics with visceral pop energy. Her voice is hypnotic and reminds us of Tricky's ex-girlfriend Martina Topley-Bird, Lily Allen (a fan) or Jorja Smith. At only 20 years old, Arlo Parks is the flavor of the month and is likely to be in the limelight for many years to come. A true revelation.
