Pærish – Fixed It All

Paris’s Pærish met at film school in their home town, somewhat unexpectedly their name is based on the character Alan Parrish from Jumanji rather than the expected art school film references, although the press release makes it clear that this refers to the original starring the late Robin Williams rather than the big budget reboots starring Dwayne Johnson. Whilst film brought them together their collective primary passion in life is music, the same priorities I would imagine any regular reader of the site has, something that has seen the band focus on writing songs over scripts and concentrate on performing on concert stages rather than movie sets. Having said that Pærish haven’t abandoned their their collective love for film, as the song titles and lyrics are a nod to their cinematic roots.

Fixed It All opens with it’s intense title track that takes it cues from the heyday of 90’s alternative, elements of fuzzed up grunge and indie collide beautifully on a soundtrack that is complimented by spiralling guitar breaks and a laconic, almost hypnotically soothing, vocal delivery. This is the template for the rest of Fixed It All, that might sound like a dismissive phrase but it isn’t, like the best movies, or at least at lot of the ones I like, I’m intentionally misleading you. Pærish‘s sophomore album is one that is beautifully constructed, there are constant twists and turns but they always stay true to the laid back intensity that is the hallmark of Fixed It All. Like many movies I’ve seen in recent years there is also an unexpected and gratuitous cameo as Movements‘ vocalist Patrick Miranda makes a brief appearance on the track You & I. The most intense moment is of course saved for the finale, Fixed It All fades to black with the intense brooding Hollow before the house lights come up.

Do I get the movie references that are allegedly contained in the album, the short answer is no, unless I missed a reference to Marvel in there somewhere, but it’s of no consequence, Pærish‘s soundtrack is one that is meticulously and perfectly constructed. Even if the underlying themes are lost on you this is an album that brings emotions to the surface, although those of you who are more artfully minded when it comes to cinema might find another level to appreciate this album. Pærish ave delivered a marriage of film and music that resonates deeply, the ten songs contained on Fixed It All provide the soundtrack to love, loss and trying to make sense of the world around them, something we have all experienced in recent times.

Fixed It All will be released on the 23rd April and can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp and Side One Dummy Records