Parcels @ Metropol in Berlin

It is common knowledge that sitting down to compose a second album can be a moment in the career of any musician that produces vertigo. A real challenge when your first album has been widely acclaimed. That could have been the case for Parcels after releasing their debut album in 2018. And yet they have just released a great second album. Or rather two, because ‘Day/Night’ consist of two wonderful records.

And precisely on the occasion of the album's release, at the end of last September Parcels announced by surprise four very special concerts in London, Paris, Berlin and New York to present their new songs in anticipation of a long tour that will begin at the end of February in Canada, and also as a way to celebrate the end of a long period without live music. Or at least that's how it felt for me. No need to say that all tickets were sold out in just a few minutes.

‘Day/Night’ is simply a declaration of intent. A statement as a band. It sounds like freedom and authenticity. It is also a very cinematic album that when listening to it takes you through a series of evocative soundscapes. Listening to ‘Day/Night’ it is like a journey open to the personal interpretation of each listener. They have also explored new territories adding orchestral arrangements and jazzy sounds to their recognizable pop and funky sounds. And in the lyrics, they navigate through issues such as identity and anonymity, family and independence, belonging and isolation or nostalgia. ‘Day/Night’ it’s an album in which they have vindicated themselves as musicians. Parcels are not only the future, but also the present. And in my personal opinion they should also be the mirror in which many other bands should look at themselves, for their way of understanding music, and the way they are managing themselves within the music industry.

And about last night's concert in Berlin, how delightful it is to see and listen to these five live! They simply lived up to the very high expectations they had generated. They played a set where they combined their new songs with the old ones that they slightly revisited, making the stage their natural habitat. Everything seemed to work ... with the sole exception perhaps of the venue. Metropol is not a bad location, but its interior does not live up to the expectations that creates its imposing exterior presence and its history. At least for a concert of these characteristics. With not the best acoustic either, the stage was “visually suffocating” this band that has four of its five members in a democratic front row in which they also have two keyboards. It simply seemed too small for them. On the other hand, a positive point for an audience that sang the songs as it’s certainly very rare to see here in Berlin.

We will have to wait to see them again in Berlin. It won’t be until next October 13th, 2022 when they will play again as the last stop of their tour. Although if you like festivals you won't have to wait that long as they have been confirmed for the recently announced new Tempelhof Sounds festival which will take place in June 2022.

Stay tuned about Parcels by visiting their official website: parcelsmusic.com