Porcelain Parrot's new single "firehead" is a full-on barge, with guitars so fuzz-drenched they sound sopping wet, vocals that trail alongside, and a shoegaze shimmer that burns off, leaving behind nothing but the memory of teenage heartbreak. On this release, that emo/indie rock project opens a daring new chapter, louder, grittier, and more self-assured than ever.
Starting like a confessional scrawl on the margins of a high school notebook, the track builds up momentum gradually as swirling layers of sandblasted analog grit coalesce into a storm. Inspired by emo stalwarts like Free Throw and Algernon Cadwallader, "firehead" feels warm and tactile, swaying atop a bed of heavily saturated guitars. There's a tactile element, with real analog gear used on the recording, a punchy 1176 compressor used on the vocals, and an Avalon VT737 driving the bass line with warmth and urgency.
Written during a fallout with a close friend, the lyrics beautifully encapsulate the pain of youth, the confusion of growing apart, and the wisdom that only time reveals. It's vulnerable but not fragile and angry without relinquishing its empathy.
It's a song recorded in isolation when no one else could see its value, a ballsy testament to self-belief, and a strong lead-in to Porcelain Parrot's six-track EP, to be released this July. If this single is any indication, the EP will be a cathartic ride through youth, memory, and the messy process of becoming.
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Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey Music
on
April 24, 2025
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