ALBUM REVIEW: Rita – Paerish

French rockers, PAERISH, have put out their fourth studio record Rita. For the Parisian quartet, the name for their album came from the church near to the home that frontman and guitarist, Mathias Court, grew up in, named after the patron saint of desperate and impossible causes. Despite not being religious, he’s always viewed that church as something that will protect him, and he felt it fitting to use the name as a representation of the personal hardships and sacrifices of being in an indie-rock band.

So, not only is the album related to youth, but also PAERISH as they currently stand now. It represents who they are and their goal that has remained true since their formation in 2015, just now at a more elevated level where the songs are, as they put it, crazier as hard-hitting as ever.

Setting the scene is opening track, Prince Of Darkness, where we are immediately hit by loud feedback that builds into a high energy performance from the band that transforms into a smooth alternative rock number with vocals that perfectly blend in. As things progress into the following track, Heal, you start to notice and highly appreciate the smooth melodies and synths that seamlessly hit into the louder rhythm of drums, guitar and bass as they head into drone rock territory. The vocals of Court are the final factor, not just here but the entire album, that tie everything together where he shares that same smooth melody yet could easily slot into your typical emo band. A simpler way to put it is that this entire record is stunningly beautiful.

Not only do we experience that perfect balance of ethereal, dreamlike melodies with hard-hitting instrumentals, but we can also hear moments of genre experimentation that will genuinely leave you in a state of euphoria. Taking Always Assuming for example, which also happens to be the longest track that goes on for around six minutes, we can experience something of a time warp where on the one hand it feels nostalgic of 90s alternative and a cinematic film soundtrack. Yet, it still feels like an example of how far rock music has come in the last few decades with pushing boundaries of that typical heavier sound, closing off with a dreamlike acoustic composition.

On top of that, you can experience moments that have you feeling like you’re about to ascend to a higher spiritual plane from just how beautiful things sound on tracks such as Hurry Slowly, Swamp Monsters Of Malibu, and Strawberry. Nicely contrasted with the heavier sounds heard on Wait For Dark, Crashing In Circles, and What You Want.

All we can say that this is an incredible record where words can barely do justice for the experience that awaits you on your first listen.

Rating: 9/10

Rita is out now via SideOneDummy Records. 

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