Emerging from Oakland, California’s vibrant independent music scene, Parallel draws inspiration from the introspective depths of post-punk and the ethereal beauty of shoegaze. Their uniqueness lies in the seamless integration of dense, brooding vibes with airier, ethereal qualities. The result is a lush yet austere palette, both sparse and overflowing—a sound that shimmers with a dark and delicate beauty. Tracks build slowly into complex, multilayered compositions, referencing the gothic psychedelia of The Chameleons and Sad Lovers and Giants alongside the minimalist atmospherics of bands like Slowdive, Low, and Wire. This dual nature is a hallmark of their style, offering a modern take on the classic elements of dream pop, slowcore, and post-punk.
Emerge yourself in the dream-like trance of Parallel’s “Blister.” The vocals are eerie and lush, finding a middle ground between haunting beauty and psychedelic hallucinations. The slow-burning nature of this track allows each warping element to hit deep in your core. Fuzzy guitars cascade around muted vocals that appear to be sung from another dimension. “Blister” evokes the feeling of screaming into a pillow after a long day. So many emotions are released, yet you must dig deep to find them. Parallel combines the dense textures of modern shoegaze with nods to psychedelic rock on “Blister,” a single with otherworldly tones and textures that still feel relatable and present.