English musician Arlo Parks has returned with My Soft Machine, the follow-up to 2021 debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, and it’s anything but a sophomore slump. The Transgressive Records release is equal parts cool and vulnerable, building on the lyrical artistry Parks has become known for.
Prior to the album’s release, Parks dropped five singles, with “Pegasus,” featuring Phoebe Bridgers, drawing in a lot of buzz. But some of the album’s highlights are in the deep cuts, such as the indie-rock infused “Dog Rose.” The track, like the rest of the album, speaks openly about young queer love, reflecting on the small moments that make relationships and yearning feel so special. “I’m Sorry” offers a deeply personal exploration into emotional wounds, and features The Dirty Projectors’ David Longreth on guitar.
On social media, Parks opened up about the release, stating: “My Soft Machine is finally out. I’m giddy, I’m crying, I’m grinning, I’m throwing myself around this apartment, I’m on fire, I’m terrified, I’m feeling everything right now. Thank you to my dear friends who made this with me and who loved me whilst I was making it. Thank you to my team & my managers for holding the work gently. Thank you to my love for your heart, your care and your inquisitive green eyes. Thank you to the artists & authors & filmmakers & poets who nourished me through this — I am nothing but a student at the end of it all.”
In support of My Soft Machine, Parks will be spending much of the summer touring the UK, Japan, Australia, and Europe. While North America doesn’t yet seem to be on the itinerary, we eagerly await this Soft Machine inevitably headed our way.