Lullabies After Storms and Floods
Parade
Elastic Recordings ER013 (paradetoronto.bandcamp.com)
Their press release states that Parade “is an experimental pop-rock trio based out of Toronto, Ontario featuring Stefan Hegerat (drums, compositions), Chris Pruden (synthesizers) and Laura Swankey (vocals, electronics)” who draw on “their diverse backgrounds in jazz, classical and electronic music” to combine “improvisation and composition to create unique and immersive sonic landscapes.” Their latest album Lullabies After Storms and Floods demonstrates an eclectic and exciting mix of slightly dissonant melodies, electronic sounds which invade and regress, sweeps of drums and precise but almost emotionless vocals.
The Bridge begins quietly with a soft vocal (”What moved her to cross the bridge that night….”) and builds into a more epic rock piece with some swirling drums, before returning to the opening mood. The Basin begins with a “marimba” repeating a minimalist pattern for over two minutes before it abruptly shifts to a standard rock beat with Swankey singing “In the basin, where tender thoughts coalesce… trapped in stillness, my heart is on ice…”. The vocals are eventually replaced by the recurring minimalist rhythm but with different instrumentation. Other pieces contain jazz influenced sections (the opening to Frozen Portrait deliciously evokes a late-night jazz singer and the piano work is subtle and warm). The mixture of vocals (with vibratoless and slightly dissonant melodies) and changing moods and genres, make Parade an intriguing and fascinating band and this album succeeds in producing many “immersive sonic landscapes.”
Listen to 'Lullabies After Storms and Floods' Now in the Listening Room
