Looking back over the breadth of Anders Parker’s two-decade career, there is little he has yet to accomplish or prove. The stylistic range encompassed by his Varnaline work alone is evidence of Parker’s determination to explore, illuminate, absorb and transcend every musical influence he’s experienced, from alt-country and raw folk to pastoral Americana and baroque art rock. And Parker’s catalog under his own name has been equally diverse, be it the transitional familiarity of 2004’s Tell It To The Dust or the ambient instrumental guitar wash of 2010’s Cross Latitudes. There’s A Bluebird In My Heart, Parker’s latest contribution, is a welcome return to his Varnaline/early-solo sound, perhaps in reaction to his recent experimental streak. Parker will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new review of There’s A Bluebird In My Heart.
Parker: I discovered Monty Python on my local PBS station when I was growing up. The local affiliate would play Python and Doctor Who on the weekends. At first I didn’t understand what I was seeing. Why are those guys in English accents doing odd things and dressing like women? Why is that man doing a silly walk? Why are they trying to confuse a cat? Why are they out of cheese? But once I got it, I was addicted. Python makes me laugh still. And they dovetail with my Anglophilia like of so much of English music.
