Parking Dance – Can’t Explain (Album – Icy Cold Records)
Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave, Dark-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Parking Dance is a French project driven by Matthieu Bonnécuelle. This is the second full length album by Parking Dance, which has been again released on Icy Cold Records.
Content: Parking Dance totally fits the music taste of Icy Cold Records; a true passion for good-old 80s ‘Wave’ music. The opening notes and songs clearly reveal this inspiration, which rapidly evokes Bauhaus to me. Some guitar parts remind me of the legendary British formation. “Can’t Explain” is made by mewing guitar playing, dark atmospheres evolving into a true tormented last part.
+ + + : The Post-Punk style created by Parking Dance is pure nostalgia that will appeal to lovers of Cold/Dark-Wave music. The deep bass lines together with the icy guitar playing both create an intimate and somewhat beleaguered sphere. “Karma Paranoid” is a great song illustrating this approach, but I also have to mention the excellent opener “Get Off” and the ultra-dark “Just Dance”.
– – – : The songs are somewhat similar and the production of the vocals could be a little bit more passionate. I think there’s more potential hiding inside this project than what came out at this work.
Conclusion: This work evokes some great souvenirs, reminding us of the darkness and still magic of the 80s. Parking Dance is a name to keep in mind.
Best songs: “Karma Paranoid”, “Get Off”, “Just Dance”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/parkingdance
Label: www.facebook.com/icycoldrecords
About Parking Dance
Parking Dance is a French project led by Matthieu Bonnécuelle, working in a Cold-Wave and Dark-Wave style rooted in 80s post-punk. “Can’t Explain”, released in 2021, is the project’s second full-length album on Icy Cold Records.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
