Parachute

Album review

We’re a long way away from Sunset Lover, the 2017 chill house track that introduced Petit Biscuit to the masses. His new record Parachute strays far from his past productions, showcasing Quits era Flume, Hudson Mohawke and Troye Sivan influences. The eponymous opening track is lead by a gritty 808 sub laying the foundation for Petit Biscuit’s driven, pop-tinged vocal. He explores a new musical avenue with Take Cover, a track that gently sways with its hypnotic RnB production and quasi-rapped vocals. The lightly arpeggiated guitar and melancholic tone would be right at home on an XXXTentacion record, suggesting another probable influence for Petit Biscuit. The tone of the album shifts on instrumental masterpiece Gwana, where sampled vocals take centre stage. Hyper compressed drums persist throughout the first minute or so before dying down, giving way to the track’s breakdown. What can only be described as metamorphosis, ensues: the track enters a psychotic trance where a Rezz-esque distortion bass leads with a Golden Features style drop. The sidechained kick drives all the way through, propelling the track towards its inevitable climax. The album’s ballad, I leave Again, is a gentle electric piano track that starts gentle but ends with a bright supersaw laden crescendo. The final track of the album, Hang On, may as well be an ODESZA – Hudson Mohawke collaboration. Occasional hints of Loyal or even Chimes are peppered throughout the colossally wide song. Impeccable sound design, glitchy dropped beats, a heavy sidechain thump and interspersed vocal chops close the album in an epic way. Parachute is a stylistically diverse record which strays from Petit Biscuit's roots, embraces unconventional production techniques and aims for a slightly more commercial audience. Nothing wrong with that though! © Tom Oscar Adams/Qobuz