I have long been a fan of Jordan Parker’s gauzy, nocturnal pop. Whether drenched in the turbid atmosphere of his defunct dance-rock project Vera Vera or wrapped in the spectral haze of Mara, his eerie midnight sensibilities have always struck me as both intimate and alluring. So earlier this week, when I stumbled upon the debut single from his latest endeavor, Jaguar Purrs, I was pleased to hear that it was cut from a similar shadowy cloth.
As an introduction, “Future Visions” bears most of the hallmarks of Parker’s past efforts — murky production; smoky, nearly-soporific vocals; and a darkly sexy vibe. Whatever subtle evolutions the track may contain (that electric guitar line dancing behind the swirling electronics is a welcome development) take a back seat to the warm, haunted aesthetic Parker has become so skilled at conjuring. Still, despite its aura of familiarity, “Future Visions” feels dynamic and fresh. Much of modern electropop suffers from an over-reliance on studio polish, so it’s exciting to hear something organic and worn that makes you want to dance deep into the night.
Although Parker has confirmed to us that Mara will remain a going concern for the foreseeable future, he also acknowledged he intended to spend much of 2017 working on Jaguar Purrs’ debut EP and follow-up full length. No definitive dates have been set, but we’ll be sure to let you know as new developments arise. In the meantime, check out “Future Visions” below.
More Info
Bandcamp: jaguarpurrs.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @jaguarpurrs