Paraquay unveils ‘Here For Your Pleasure,’ a genre-blending expedition reminiscent of Pixies, packed with vibrant energy and nostalgic charm.
Alternative rock four piece Paraquay present Here For You Pleasure, a Pixies-esque excursion through the annals of rock, pop and grunge.
With influences spanning from Cheap Trick to Pavement, Paraquay debut with an energy that feels previously unmatched.
A tinge of classic rock, a lot of alternative nineties and a playfulness that permeates every moment of the album drives Here For Your Pleasure onwards and upwards.
Opening with unceasingly animated The Cowboys Are Coming, Paraquay tease goofy, expertly executed guitar lines and a cohesiveness that tells of an inmate band connection.
A palpable enjoyment and connection to one another – made clearer with each dynamic shift, of which there are many. The Cowboys Are Coming is predictable in its unpredictability, making for a constantly exciting listen that isn’t shapeshifting just for the sake of it.
There is an intense and captivating nostalgia to Here For Your Pleasure, making itself boldly known through tracks like Sovereign Station / Sovereign Nation.
With an Ian Curtis quality to the vocals and a Kinks-like instrumentation, Paraquay subtly show off their musical aptitude. Previous singles Oh Leah and Save Face already engender a desperate urge to be amongst Paraquay in a live setting, a feeling only amplified by the crunchy and bluesy guitars on Jesse.
The interplay between vocal and guitar lines is immensely effective – and reminiscent of The Strokes. A confidence seeps through the record, particularly around the midway point.
Paraquay do not feel like a band from the 20’s, rather an incarnation of all those that came before. And this I mean as the highest compliment.
Cripple Me feels like a half-step into psych rock territory, though primarily a nineties alternative track at heart. Joy Division meets Nada Surf meets Pixies, maybe even a little Built To Spill in its melodic tendencies.
The fact that Here For Your Pleasure conjures so much comparison is a testament to their creation. The thirteen track record doesn’t lose its momentum, something easy to do with an album this long.
Instead, Paraquay traverse new territory on Regret, an almost shoe gaze inspired moment. Closing out an album of this stature proves a difficult task, but Paraquay make the right choice in offering Maybe I’ll.
A ruminating, punk-grunge introspective that lends itself perfectly to the stage. Perhaps one of the best parts of Here For Your Pleasure is the drumming.
Consistently challenging though playing off the rest of the band at every moment, decorated with speedy drum rolls and more intricate, unique fills, the rhythm section is the steady backbone that every band should strive for.
There is so much more that could be said about Here For Your Pleasure, but you should probably just listen for yourself below.
Join Gus Walker, Jade McKentish, Jett Willey, and Milo Emmanuel from Paraquay as they take the stage for the Here For Your Pleasure album launch at Night Hawks in Melbourne on June 30th, accompanied by Sunday Honey and Hey Spiro. Head here for more info.
Review by Caitlin Norris
