Parsons Rocket Project Bring Shoegaze To A New High With Debut LP

Parsons Rocket Project’s self-titled LP is a symphony of pain and triumph, blending various genres masterfully to evince a sonically evocative tale.

Parsons Rocket Project have unveiled a new video for 'Solar Flare', the most upbeat track from their self-titled debut album, which was released last month. Comprised of six tracks, this is a beautiful mixed bag of dream-gaze, indie rock and space rock, occupying a sweet spot between Blonde Redhead, My Bloody Valentine, Bowery Electric and Slowdive. This video follows the release of two videos for the exciting 'Exit Launch' and the serene ‘Interlude I’.

This album is a must for fans of such bands as Mercuy Rev, DeuS, Slowdive, Spiritualized, Trespassers William, Mojave 3, and Mazzy Star. We can even throw Bowery Electric in there for good measure. The new video was produced, shot and edited by Steven Quinn with mountain footage provided by Deep Water Surf and shuttle footage courtesy of Pexels & Creative Commons.

Hailing from Atlanta, Parsons Rocket Project takes its name from American rocket propulsion engineer, chemist, and occultist Jack Parsons. The band formed in 2015 when drummer, lyricist, and titular figurehead Jody Hasty started collaborating with bassist Paul Curry, guitarist Jeff Holt, and multi-instrumentalist producer/engineer Benjamin Price at Studilaroche in Atlanta. They were later joined by K. Michelle Dubois on vocals.

The band laid down the tracks for this album in the very studio, where Benjamin Price has also worked on releases by Gang of Four and The Hives, among others. The album was mastered by Joe Lambert (Lou Reed, Animal Collective, The National, Hot Chip, Deerhunter, Panda Bear, Washed Out). Parsons Rocket Project’s musical output is a mixture of ambient, dream pop, indie and space rock. They infuse this multi-colored trippery with the shimmering oceanic resonance of shoegaze and neo-psychedelia to round out this first release.

Parsons’ members cite a number of artist influences, including Flying Saucer Attack, Tape Cuts Tape, Spacemen 3, Eluvium, Swervedriver, Aix Em Klemm, William Basinski, and Clams Casino. However, their sound is closer to Slowdive, Spiritualized, Trespassers William, Mojave 3, and Mazzy Star.

This debut LP represents a significant moment in time for the band, who were challenged to overcome very real struggles involving drug abuse, a terrible automobile accident, and the low-level daily drama of domesticity. Some of the ambient and psychedelic exploration is rooted in real trauma – both physical and emotional – while some of it is celebratory in nature, rooted in the unique awareness of a temporary conscious being in our universe.

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