Now, if you’ve been frequenting this site over the past couple of years, you might be somewhat familiar with Madrid, Spain-based indie rock/garage rock/psych rock trio The Parrots, who have received international acclaim for a sound that draws from garage rock and psych rock with a wild, loose, almost boozy rowdiness that has been compared to the likes of Thee Oh Sees, Black Lips, Raccoon Fighter, High Waisted, White Mystery and others; but since some of you will be new readers, or at least unfamiliar with the Spanish indie rock sensations, we’ll go through some backstory: Comprised of Diego Garcia (vocals, guitar), Alejandro de Lucas (bass) and Daniel “Larry” Balboa (drums), the members of The Parrots quickly became a DIY scene and underground scene sensation with a demo, which was released without much promotion and even less fanfare. However, the video for “I Did Something Wrong” initially received over 15,000 hits on YouTube and caught the attention of music bloggers both across the European Union and elsewhere.
For those of you who have been following for some time, NME named the Spanish trio as one of SXSW‘s “buzziest bands” last year and since then the Spanish indie rock sensations have been extremely busy while building upon a rapidly growing international profile as the released a critically applauded EP, Weed for The Parrots, have conducted a relentless tour schedule, played 14 sets at this year’s SXSW and then signed to renowned indie label Heavenly Recordings. Adding to all of that, the members of the band released a single earlier this year, “Let’s Do It Again,” which was reportedly inspired by the members of the band drinking beers and Horchata, eating Moroccan delicacies and the feelings of deep friendship and loyalty. And as a result, that song possessed a shuffling, intoxicated sensation of being awed by adventure and being elated at being alive with your dearest, closest friends. Sonically, that particular single arguably cemented the Madrid-based trio’s reputation for raw and shaggy garage rock as Garcia’s passionate howls are paired with a shuffling and jangling garage rock chords, propulsive drumming and a throbbing bass line in a song that evoke the sounds of 1962.
Interestingly, The Parrots’ highly-anticipated full-length debut, Los Ninos Sin Miedos is slated for an August 26, 2016 through Heavenly Recordings and the album’s latest single “Jame Gumb” has the Spanish trio leaning towards an punk rock sound as a propulsive bass line is paired wth shimmering and angular guitar chords played through reverb and effects pedals, industrial squeak and squawk and Garcia’s howled and cooed vocals; however, the song possesses an obvious studio polish, which modernizes their sound without buffing away the grit, dirt and mayhem at the core of their sound; in fact, the song reminds me of a frenetic version of Iggy Pop’s “Wild One.”
