Parcels at Manchester Academy 2
Johnny James, Managing Editor
Parcels are one of the most downright fun bands around at the moment. Fusing funk, disco and pop, they sound like an amalgamation of The Beach Boys and Chic. Their delicious hooks and pristine grooves are currently generating a lot of hype, and their most recent singles are by far their best yet. With a debut album just around the corner, now is the time to indulge in the hip swinging joy of one of their live shows.
The band is made up of five members: five Australian lads who went to school together in Byran Bay. After finishing school, they felt like an adventure, and having heard good things about Berlin, decided to relocate there and throw themselves into music. Sharing a one-bed apartment, the band got to work, both on their tunes and on their frankly killer look – think Australian surfer dude meets 70’s Euro camp.
Settling into Berlin hand in glove, Parcels released a string of disco-infused pop bangers, filled with cut-glass grooves and immaculate production, handled by the band. ‘Gamesofluck’ and ‘Older’ are the best of these tracks. Shortly after, they played their first show in France. It was attended by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo – better known as Daft Punk, who immediately approached them with regards to a collaboration.
The ridiculously funky ‘Overnight’, which Daft Punk co-produced, earned Parcels significant attention. There followed their best tunes yet, the most recent of which is ‘Tieduprightnow’. This sleek little number is the perfect place to start if you’re not familiar with the band. If the rest of their upcoming album (out 12 October) stands up to it, then it’s sure to catapult them into dizzy new heights. If I were you, I’d grab your tickets for their Academy 2 show before that happens!
