I can’t be the only one who instinctively thinks of Ivan Pavlov and his dogs when seeing Montreal rockers Parlovr’s name. Not that that’s important, but the former psychology student in me had to mention it (and Parlovr are probably pretty likely to induce drooling amongst indie-nerd like myself).

This self-described sloppy pop band have been causing quite a stir lately, being compared to bands like Animal Collective, Talking Heads, The Pixies and Wolf Parade. Formed in 2006 by Louis David Jackson (vocals, guitars) and Alex Cooper (vocals, keyboards, guitars) , the band became complete with the addition of Jeremy MacCuish on drums the following year.

At the end of 2008 Parlovr independently released their self-titled debut, which is jam packed with energetic, danceable indie pop highlighted by screaming and falsetto vocals, sharp hooks and quirky lyrics. While some songs tend to stand out a bit more than others (“Hiccup!”, “Archy & Mehitable”, “On The Phone”, “Pen To The Paper”, “Sleeping Horses”) each still has its own irresistible charm.

Besides recording an album, the band has also done some extensive touring around Canada, which they will continue with during the coming summer. New material is also in the works, so if you’re on the look-out for the next big whimsical indie pop act, Parlovr could very well be it.

~ “Hiccup!” ~