Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams [Album Review]
For many of us, the music of 2020’s bright breakout star Arlo Parks has been the soundtrack to the strangest period in our lifetimes. Out today, her debut album ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ is beautifully written, brilliantly perceptive and dares to make empaths out of all of us.
A lifetime ago (back in 2019), Arlo Parks’ winning blend of soul-inflected indie-pop, poetic lyrics and remarkably soft vocals was beginning to earn her widespread acclaim. The west Londoner’s many successes included gaining a coveted spot on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury and opening up for two of the UK’s coolest artists, Loyle Carner and Jordan Rakei. Exciting times undoubtedly lay ahead for Arlo (who had literally just finished her A-levels, by the way). By February 2020 Parks had just released her first single of the year, the sweetly heart-breaking ballad ‘Eugene’ and was gearing up for her very first headline tour.
Of course, we all know what happened next. In March, 2020 was officially cancelled, taking down Park’s impending tour along with it. But, as it turns out, Parks’ music – restful, reflective, calming – was incredibly well suited for a year of turmoil.
In May, the timely release of ‘Black Dog’, a single that expertly explores the cruel and complicated nature of depression, struck a chord with the nation, proving extremely popular. Later, as lockdown rolled on into the summer, Park’s empathetic voice continued to offer solace in the form of her rhythmic, uplifting single ‘Hurt’, a song about addiction. Two more singles followed: ‘Caroline’ which thoughtfully captures Parks’ observations as she watches a couple fighting, and the nostalgia-tinted ‘Green Eyes’ (featuring US indie artist Clairo) that revisits Parks’ short-lived relationship with a girl which cracked under pressure following the prejudice the couple faced.
As we approach the shocking milestone of a year lived amidst lockdown measures, Parks’ much-awaited ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ promises to keep us warm as we hunker down for the remainder of winter. Described as “a series of vignettes and intimate portraits surrounding her adolescence and the people that shaped it”, the record collates Parks’ five singles of 2020 and generously offers six more (including 2021 single ‘Hope’) along with a dreamlike poem for an introduction. In her new additions, Parks continues to display wisdom far beyond her years - delving into the visceral emotions and memories of her teenage days and reflecting on topics spanning mental-health, sexuality, love and loss in doing so. Far from being heavy-going, ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ is unerringly uplifting, beautiful and authentic throughout.
Along with her light-as-air vocals and poetic prowess, Parks, with the help of her talented producer Gianluca Buccellati, is brilliant at recreating emotions through music. The duo are especially adept at giving songs the warm, vintage vibe of sun-dappled memories by lightly brushing songs with a fuzzy, vinyl feel and pulling big, jazzy drum rhythms into focus. Nostalgia is a comforting thing during a crisis, and there’s something addictive about this subtle, rose-tinted aesthetic that particularly stands out in songs like ‘Green Eyes’, ‘Bluish’ and ‘Hope’ and has become a stronghold of Parks’ signature sound. This skill for creating pitch-perfect sonic moodscapes extends to more nuanced emotions too. The bittersweet sound of ‘Black Dog’, which uses gentle guitar strums and delicate, shimmering keys captures a feeling of cautious optimism along with the tender, concerned feelings Parks has towards a depressed friend, while the ominous, rumbling sonics of ‘For Violet’ drag the listener deep into Parks’ feeling of disillusionment as she consoles another pal who’s being mistreated by her father.
There are tracks that lean further towards pop too - including chirpy breakup bop, ‘Just Go’ and the consoling, anthemic ‘Hope’ - which boast melodic verses and soul-tinged catchy choruses. The tunes that stick however are often the ones that showcase Parks’ unique talent for poignant and evocative lyrics, such as ‘Eugene’ which she opens with, ‘I had a dream, we kissed and it was all amethyst’; ‘Caroline’, where she describes ‘strawberry cheeks flushed with defeated rage’ or ‘Bluish’ where she addresses a difficult friend, saying ‘You twist violets in my eyes’.
‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ ultimately has a lot to give, and Park’s thoughtful reflections and empathetic approach will undoubtedly resonate during a time where we could all do with a little more care.