‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ is a stunning debut. Possessing a voice that is strikingly beautiful and quietly bold, here Londoner Arlo Parks shines. Riding a wave of hype and early-career critical praise, she has delivered a batch of songs that ensure such attention will continue to grow.
As ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ opens with the soft, poetic introduction of the title track Parks becomes instantly relatable. We picture her moving swiftly around a kitchen on a warm day, comforted by the rising sun, but also in a state of discomfort prompted by the world around her.
As the album flows across tracks with subtle percussive quirks and delicate instrumentation it is as though Parks is in conversation with her listeners. Spoken segments interject through songs as ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ harnesses a sound that is wholesome, familiar even.
We find solace in the welcoming demeanour of Parks' music, as her songs envelop us like a hug in trying times. “You’re not alone like you think you are. We all have scars, I know it’s hard,” she sings over warm piano chords and a skittering beat on Hope, sensitively sketching the anxiety and weight that accompanies discussions of mental health.
Bestowing her words in a measured almost-whisper, Parks crafts a rousing, intimate atmosphere. She is continually graceful and eloquent, fuelled and informed by a jagged reality. Looking inward, the artist shares experiences of everyday life, intertwined with notions of identity, feminism, and race.
Representative, tender and confessional, ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ is an album meandering effortlessly in tune with its complementary arrangements and heartfelt sentiments. Parks does not hide away from poignant subjects, but embraces them with empathetic understanding, compassionate reasoning and piercing honesty.
Arlo Parks Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed May 12 2021 - MANCHESTER Gorilla Manchester
Tue May 18 2021 - EDINBURGH Mash House
Wed May 19 2021 - GLASGOW Saint Luke's
Fri May 21 2021 - BRIGHTON Chalk
Sat May 22 2021 - DUBLIN Whelans
Tue May 25 2021 - BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
Wed May 26 2021 - LEEDS Belgrave Music Hall
Sat May 29 2021 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Sun May 30 2021 - BRISTOL Thekla
Wed June 02 2021 - LONDON Village Underground
Thu June 03 2021 - LONDON Village Underground
Tue August 03 2021 - LIVERPOOL Arts Club
Tue August 10 2021 - KINGSTON UPON THAMES New Slang (Pryzm)
Mon November 01 2021 - BRISTOL SWX
Thu November 04 2021 - LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Tue November 09 2021 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
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