This is a fourth EP from West Yorkshire dark horse PARISMAN. The tune-soaked five-piece impressed me way back in 2001 with an un-aimed scattershot of sparkly rock and electronic fragments on their debut EP "Responsible for Everything". That announcement of seriously talented intent was confirmed with brilliantly focussed live sets that put them straight into "watch this space" territory.
Since then it sounds like PARISMAN have worked on nothing but the music. The unwelded rock and electronic components were ground down and bolted firmly together for the first year end's "A Lesson In The Art Of Balance" which represented a bold march forwards. That EP's "Inspiration and Tar" is a classic tune with epic dimensions that can’t be anything but a major part of PARISMAN'S inevitable smart-label debut album.
Time passed, gigs were played and a third well-received EP emerged in early 2003. But now it’s April 2004. PARISMAN have taken a top-of-the-bill spot at Leeds Metropolitan University with effortless assurance and serious acclaim. And "The answer to example 1" EP with video is being released. Again put out by the band – but this time with management putting a shoulder to the wheel, it's a mighty fine piece of work. Just as the skinny puppy backwash of Strokes and White Stripes emulators starts to run out of energy, here’s part of a new current of bands with deeper roots, a firmer musical grip and (the very gold among pop's junk bond market) great tunes and rich voices.
Quietly in with spiky dry guitar "This Is For Your Neighbours" hurries on to some bombastic chords and a sinuously long-lined tune that luxuriates in PARISMAN's two vocalists: Shaun Halloran and James Scholes. The whole thing picks up energy and sonic decoration as it rolls along, seamless and accomplished.
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A lo-fi start to "White Russians" sets off a stoned lope of a tune. It transforms gloriously into a ringing chorus of guitars, synths and falsetto voices that could be FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE. (no, really) Further verses bring deliciously subtle stabs of synthed and sampled colour. And just before a final chorus and reprise there's a wonderful four bar bridge that for most other bands would have been a song all on its own. PARISMAN know they've got plenty more where that came from. They can indulge the listener with gems that don’t wear out with over-exposure.
"Loosly Connected" has an infectious marimba-like intro with singing that (scarily) evokes Robert Harvey's trademark repetition for a moment or two. But the whole song has rich integrity and shape and, even at 5 minutes 32 seems way too short. There's a SQUAREPUSHER-like intermission of intelligently-sampled ambient stuff and then the main tune gets back with a magnificent kick of rockier pace and attack. Plus a great guitar riff, and ending with famous last words "and now we've got to go". It’s bloody good and no mistake. I have a strong feeling these tunes will be taken up and put onto that debut album, and filed somewhere near MASSIVE ATTACK. But in the meantime gigs and the band's website (www.parisman.co.uk) will give you a chance to get ahead of the game and have the original Leeds 6 graffiti artwork and the video by Mike Almond and James Scholes.
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