At just 21, it’s somewhat surprising that Dan Parsons has already been on the scene for a couple of years. Having made his foray into the musical world with his heritage-flavoured debut release Old Brown Shoe in 2007, Parsons continued on this path for a short time. Then after gradually being absorbed by a new musical world of peers and influences he found a new desire to make a different type of music. Bravely scrapping his next lot of release-bound recordings he decided to start from scratch and after six months of demoing and experimenting in his one-man-band style, Parsons created a new band and enlisted the help of Melbourne producer John Castle and collaborator James O’Brien (The Boat People) to complete the transition. With his debut album all but complete, flag-ship single ‘Run With Me’ is the opening taste of grander things to come. While now taking his cue from modern indie classics like Wilco and Death Cab For Cutie, Parson’s ongoing journey sees him glancing into the rear view mirror at the history of artists that encompassed his childhood world. It’s a range of genres that he messes together seamlessly, somehow making you forget that they were really that different to begin with. The opening frames of ‘Run With Me’ feature calming, rolling toms that soon give way to subtle layers of guitar, though it’s the lilting call-and-response vocals in the chorus that deliver the knock-out punch. Tumbling to an end with an eerie lyrical twist, the track hints at the many layers of Dan Parsons, something to be discovered with the unveiling of his debut album.
