New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Parson forges a connection with his child-like spirit on sophomore album Letters From Home, a cathartic exploration of his past, rooted in spontaneous compositions featuring a blend of violin, cello, synths, piano and guitars.
Featuring nine tracks brimming with nostalgia, capturing the vibrance of his birthday, the album was inspired a visit back to New Orleans after a gap of 20 years, overtaken by a flood of memories from his childhood and rekindled family bonds. With emotive vocals and a versatile spread of sonics, the record moves seamless from the delicate piano styling of “Fleeting Thoughts,” to the dreamy ambience brought to life by tracks like “The Morning After.”
Letters From Home, encapsulates the hazy ebbs and flows of a journey into your past moving from the reflective nuances of “Westbank, inspired by the time Parson spent at his grandparents’ house as a child and the forward-looking themes of pieces like “Ancestral Altar,” and “Ghosts,” to the optimism and carefree joy of stand-out production “St. Charles Avenue.”
Starting his musical journey at the young age of 11, beginning with the cello, Parson has evolved into an all-round creative force marked by innovation, improvisation in his soundscapes and impassioned touches within his lyricism – this latest album being a soothing yet powerful showcase of his talent.
