Manchester’s Purple Heart Parade release their third EP through premiere post-rock ambassadors Club AC30. Following from last years lauded Lonestar EP, Desolation Angel takes the band’s expansive and textured sound to new heights.
It opens with lead single Petrichor with its deftly dreamlike delivery that showcases the bands distance from previous influences and confidence in their own sound. Waves of engulfing, storm-like guitars crash across this entire EP but there are moments of extreme clarity within tracks like Petrichor and Red Rose Country, utilizing the full force of their loud / quiet shoegaze dynamics. Elsewhere tracks like Starwheel and title track Desolation Angel harness more of the infectious harmonies and chorus hooks that put them alongside some of their own cities finest.
Once again the band recorded at Perry Vale Studios with Pat Collier (The Jesus and Mary Chain, X-Ray Spex). Moving on from their last record which was largely emotional and cathartic, Desolation Angel is optimistic, romantic and mature. “Life’s a roller-coaster through the heavens. You’ll hit some soul destroying lows, but just up the track you know you’re going to hit some heavenly highs.
The EP is also about being true to yourself, standing up for your beliefs, doing your own thing, even though it’s not considered cool. It’s also about freeing yourself from negative situations in all aspects of life and cleansing yourself of them.”
The Fat Angel Sings 