It’s been a few years since the indie pop rock duet that is Para Lia came to our attention with their Hawk Hill 3-track EP. We quite liked it and featured it with a song premiere Now the band is back with a new album and several new videos to boot. Welcome back, we say!

Para Lia has unleashed a captivating and propulsive track titled “My Muse” as a preview of their upcoming second album, Gone With The Flow. The single is a restless and fiery post-punk/indie rock number that burns with fervent guitar lines and drives forward like a headstrong Dinosaur Jr. or Sonic Youth track. The interplay of the vocals also recall the duality of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, but here the emotions are more urgent and vibrant.

In fact, not only will the 11-track long-play Gone With The Flow get a vinyl release on February 12th, but also on CD. The digital version was released towards the end of 2020, timed to coincide with the anniversary of Germany reunification, not a small affair to both members of the duo, both of whom were born and raised in East Germany (as it was then known).

The band also celebrated this occasion by launching virtual exhibition with artist Louis Renzoni. The main themes explored on this album are the muse and the continual struggle with that relationship, explored amid layers of sound and arrangements that continually swing from light to dark.

Para Lia is an indie rock duo, now based in Cottbus (near Berlin). Influenced by the rhythms and tones of ‘90s alt-rock and the synth density of ‘80s darkwave, their own sound blends melodic guitars, along with distinctive lead guitar and resonant synths.

Comprised of René Methner (all instruments and vocals) and Cindy Methner (backing vocals), their band name was born of their love for Greece, with para lia, (παραλία) meaning “coast” or “beach” in Greek – a name full of mystery but optimism, which both has history and evokes a balance of the masculine and feminine.

Para Lia burst onto the underground music scene with their widely-praised debut album Soap Bubble Dreams in 2019, the band has garnering comparisons ranging from J Mascis, The Cure, Phillip Boa and the Voodoo Club and Arcade Fire to The Mission, The Last Shadow Puppets, Sebadoh and Editors.

Methner’s conversations with artist Louis Renzoni blossomed into not only a friendship, but also a mixed art exhibition. Originally destined for a New York gallery until the global pandemic took hold, their collaborative virtual exhibition is a celebration of their work, the release of brand new music, complemented by Renzoni’s artwork. An immersive experience, each exhibit is fully interactive.

Out on February 12th, the Gone With The Flow LP is available in all formats – on vinyl, CD and digitally – via Bandcamp. It can also be beautifully explored through the Para Lia / Louis Renzoni virtual exhibition

CREDITS
Lyrics and music by René Methner
Mixed and produced by René Methner
Mastered by Thomas Heimann-Trosien at Turnstyle Mastering, Berlin
Cover artwork by Louis Renzoni
Cover design by John Farley, SPR Designs
René Methner – lyrics and music, vocals, all instruments
Cindy Methner – vocals
Amanda Kim Sanderson (UK) – vocals on ‘Riders On The Dike’,
Fady Haddad (USA) – synth and vocals on ‘Children Of The Flood’, synth on ‘Fire (My Chemical Imbalance),
Terry Wigmore (CAN) – cello on ‘Fools’

Website
Facebook
Bandcamp
Twitter
Soundcloud
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Music