Fading Parade is the fourth album from Papercuts; the brainchild of one Jason Robert Quevers. The previous three albums were written, recorded and produced by Quevers at his home studio, Pan American Recording, in San Francisco. Last year the well-known indie label Sub Pop signed Papercuts and while Quever still used Pan American Recording for parts of Fading Parade he also travelled north to The Hangar in Sacramento where he handed over more technical aspects of the recording to Thom Monahan who has previously worked with Au Revoir Simone and Beach House. In addition to a shift in surroundings Quever also had his live band help out and was therefore able to enjoy himself more during the creation of Fading Parade. “I didn’t have a heart attack by the end,” says Quever. “It was actually enjoyable the whole way through, and I’m excited to play these songs live instead of feeling, ‘God, I never want to look at a guitar again.’” Well, this is an album that is enjoyable the whole way through. I tried writing a track-by-track review but failed miserably because it’s not an album you can listen to like that. I’m going to get all prosaic here but it’s the kind of album that entices you to do that. The hypnotically rhythmic opener Do You Really Wanna Know draws you into a world that’s part beautifully executed dreamy pop music and part contemplative and atmospheric shoegaze. I shall dub this the world of ‘popgaze’ which is a terrible name for a genre. However, as it draws you in with the 60’s pop influences and Quever’s lush vocals, Fading Parade also weaves a tale of youthful angst, insecurity and broken hearts. I’ll See You Later I Guess with its refrain of “Your things are on the floor / I’ll see you later I guess” or Marie Says You’ve Changed in which Quever sings that it “Feels so strange to be back home / Can’t decide if I belong,” are almost at odds with the lively, summery pop music that soundtracks these moments of indecision. However, these are universal themes and lend to an album that I think can be listened to in several ways. You could focus on the lyrics and lounge in your bedroom gazing with remembered longing at photos of ex-lovers or through a set of headphones while lying on your back in the garden wistfully cloudspotting on a warm summer day.
Regardless of where or how you listen to Fading Parade there is no denying that Quever has written a beautifully crafted dream of an album that floats over listeners like a pleasant daydream. I highly recommend spending time with it.
Fading Parade is released on 28th February via Sub Pop
Sample some tracks for free here, and see more info on Papercuts' blog: http://papercutsmusic.tumblr.com/
LD
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