In Clash With the Zeitgest sees German indie synthwave act Para Lia expand from a duo to a 6 piece band, even if the press release only lists 5 members, as original duo of Rene and Cindy Methner are joined by Fady Haddad, Christian Georgi and Andreas Japel. The album has been mixed and mastered by Thommy Hein.
The album opens with the gently synth pop of Like Always that as the drums come in picks up pace, while the vocals ask good questions, while pondering if they should pop another pill or not, as they try to make it through, as Rene and Cindy Methner's vocals intertwine around the ever-present synth line.
Sunchild has a cool relaxed, laying back on some grass staring at the sun feel to it, as the drum pattern has a consistent feel, as the guitars and synths are built around it, they try to keep some mystery about themselves, telling us not to give ourselves away.
All That It Takes is anthemic indie with gently soaring guitars, as the vocals ask exactly what it will take to be allowed to be with the one they love. Trying to avoid being sucked into the modern worlds constant advertising and self-promotion, so find some time for your personal life to be truly personal.
What We Always Wanted opens with a vast shoegaze repeating riff, that subsides as the vocals come in, to explain just why they are always In Clash With The Zeitgeist a situation many of us find ourselves in these days.
C'est La Vie joins the roll call of songs with this title, as they try to find the person who will complete them, an interesting concept coming from a band that started out as a duo, who I assume are together, who we hope complete each other, as the guitar squiggle and punctuate many of the vocal lines this will grow on you.
Will You Find me takes an 80's ballad and totally reworks it musically, so I sit here trying to work out what tune its based on, as Cindy takes lead vocals adding a more goth edge to this tune, that should have gone even more overblown than it does, this has windswept edges needing to be sung between billowing flags.
Yellow Rose shoots across the speakers like the arrow of love hitting its target, as Rene almost whispers sweet nothings to convince us about the love he's enamored of.
Already Came To Know has lots of backwards guitars between the lyrical bursts, as accusations fly as to why you make him so high he thinks he could fly. No matter how stubborn they might be, this seeks answers to get them through the next phase.
Mr Perry will have you wondering if they are singing about Fred or going on about the character in Jane Austen hanging out in Highbury or not, as they threaten to open the curtain and reveal the truth suddenly Andreas Japel's operatic vocals come in, adding a real twist to proceedings, that may hark back to Dead Poets Society and then again might not.
Nagual has shape shifting guitar lines, tripping on psychedelics, seeing monsters burst from deep within themselves, you may end up pondering your own reality as it builds and twists turning never totally revealing itself.
The album closes with Sunchild (Reprise) that strips the song back turning it into more of a hymn for the Sun Child as the piano comes through to speak words of wisdom to you.
Find out more at https://paralia.lnk.to/Clash https://shop.soundsofsubterrania.com/?labels=about-us&release=para-lia-in-clash-with-the-zeitgeist-88532 https://paralia.bandcamp.com/track/sunchild https://www.facebook.com/paraliamusic
