On quatro, the mission that SuperParka accomplish to the highest level is to create an immersive, subtle world drawing on influences from electronica and R&B to the carefully-crafted narratives of video game soundtracks – whilst remaining totally relaxed. They straddle complexity and calm coolness with acrobatic ease – the vocal line and melody on “easy” could fit seamlessly onto a crooning, soulful R&B track and pack soaring levels of emotion, and its detailed heartbeat of a drum line feels from a totally different sonic world, but the two come together to dial each other down into something far more relaxed.
The same applies to “heaven drop”’s hissing cymbals, “reprise”’s distorted psychedelic textures, “camila”'s poppy undertones… SuperParka expertly weave together numerous elements that seem like they would create something completely different than what we hear.
The SuperParka effect is definitely one of soothing, understated cool, no matter what influences they draw on. Previous mixtapes sushi boubou #1 and #2 are each similarly laidback despite using higher-energy sounds and dancier stylings. On their previous releases, SuperParka have kept things a little offbeat, making you work a little bit to sink into them - but on quatro, there’s none of that.
Like quicksand, it’s near impossible to hear more than a couple of beats without drifting off into the cohesive, all-encompassing lo-fi they’ve built. Despite plenty of intrigue in their sounds, structures and production, as well as plenty of fluctuating variation in the tracks on the record, SuperParka have made their sharpest, most coherent material yet and it’s gorgeously inviting to listen to. The soporific synths, fluid inflections and barely-there drums on “az” make for a listening experience that is equally as chilled as its follow up “razzz,” which boasts a much pacier melody, hookier vocal line, generally brighter rhythms… yet they slot together, becoming a perfect pair.
SuperParka’s breezy approach to making music is infectious, and it makes quatro infinitely listenable. It’s a debut that makes a tight musical statement, but it’s left them plenty of room to grow back into the leftfield they came from with a super solid base, too.
