Release Date: 14/02/20 | Label: Interscope Records | Catalog: 0846001

It is often so hard to fathom out the progression musicians make in life. Bigger stages, recording in studio’s away from home and larger audiences. Enter Kevin Parker, from bedroom instrumentalist to headlining Coachella and collaborating with Lady Gaga and A$AP Rocky, this Australian musical brainbox proves to be the epitome of this progression. Ever since the release of the debut album “ Innerspeaker,” listeners from around the globe have engaged with Parker’s epiphany pop which he so carefully crafted with an almost unhealthy perfectionist zeal. Along his journey we have learned that Trevor gets the girl in the end and that Cadillacs in particular get the rough treatment of egotistical bullies.

‘The Slow Rush’ was released yesterday by Interscope Records. Order the record here

And now his newest effort termed “The Slow Rush” has been released nearly half a decade after “Currents.” Where the latter featured tracks that became instant club stompers for people searching the perpetual pleasures of the night, The Slow Rush on the other hand is an album that finds its appeal in the after-hours of a hedonistic undertaking. The club closes and a few close friends gather to reflect on life after the party: what curveballs life has thrown to them and what they can or can not possibly expect in the near future. The questions asked are genuine and are either optimistic or downright disheartening. A passerby can’t help to overhear parts of the conversation and nods in agreement.

Whether its the motivational mantra dictated on “One More Year,” (We got a whole year, fifty-two weeks, seven days each, four seasons, one reason), or the mawkishness on the nostalgia-driven lyrics on “Lost in Yesterday,” (When we were living in squalor, wasn’t it heaven?) Parker invites the listener to dive deeper into his introspective murmur, successfully showcasing that the artist’s euphoric highs and excruciating lows are personal, yet very universal.

The lyrics are being accompanied by the most mature sonic arrangements to date. It doesn’t feel too crowded, nor does it feel too sparse. The choices Kevin Parker made demonstrate a profound understanding of the role a certain instrument serves in the context of the song. Ethereal synths introduce themselves with grand gesture. The bass is either a disco-injected eruption on “Is it True” or a subtle, heartfelt sigh on the verses in “One More Hour.” Parker knows which stroke of the brush he must apply.

Above all, The Slow Rush is an album that rightfully addresses the life-questions that we all as human beings eventually deal with. (un)knowingly, we all strive to find our own inner piece amidst the hectic troubles of daily life. Its just nice to know that an introvert from Perth made a record that reminds us that it is okay to tinker with these often unsettling interrogation we have with ourselves. That it is acceptable to come to terms with our own mistakes, how late in life that might be. That strictly speaking, we’re all still on track.

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