Album review: PARA LIA – Gone With The Flow

Independent [Release date 02.10.20]

German husband and wife team, Rene and Cindy Methner are Para Lia, now on their second album.

Pop, Electronica, Indie Rock, alt.rock, alt.pop, Dark Wave, New Wave, Old Wave?

In fact, it’s all of the above. But not as we know them. On this recording they skilfully straddle the blurry line between sub genres, falling on the side of Art Rock. If for no other reason than the fact the album is a collaboration with New York visual artist Louis Renzoni. In some cases, art inspires the music, and in others, vice versa. It’s a familiar relationship in pop culture.

That “artistic interpretation” gives them the freedom to be a little more innovative and a shade edgier. Still, they know that a well crafted tune is always the key – the clanging, hooky openers ‘My Muse’ and ‘Fade To Grey’ tell you all you need to know – the right production sound can thrust your music into the here and now, but a memorable melody is timeless.

Sometimes you might feel that it’s all just a bit too tailored, too honed, too carefully contoured, then the unusual structures of songs like ‘Children Of The Flood’ and ‘Riders On The Dike’, full of little shards of light, and a weird dissonance building in the background, create an atmosphere of anticipation

But more often it’s that very composure and confidence that makes “Riders on The Dike” so compelling. Methner is a restless songwriter and seems always to be searching for that defining moment, and that searching is what gives this album its momentum.

He gets close on ‘Kassandra’, a track underpinned by busy, beefy guitars which occasionally launch into tangled, serpentine runs. Sung by Cindy Methner, who sounds like like Joni Mitchell gone Gothic. No bad thing. And ‘No Time For Butterflies’, an explosive protest song with suitably lacerating axe work, and sharp lyrics that draw blood. As the closing track, it’s a fitting finish to the album.

Renzoni’s latest exhibition, originally scheduled to open in NY in October, then onto Berlin and London, soundtracked by Para Lia’s music, is now subject to a bespoke online setup ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)