London-based rockers brazenly strut out from the noise – with a racket of their own.

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Ever since the duo swaggered into the frame back in 2023 with their glam first Norwegian Wood, anticipation was high. The excitement around the pair was noticeable. Their raw take on good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll was wickedly fresh. It was exciting. For a minute, all eyes were on them. Then, the next minute – they weren’t. ‘Impacted by the sudden rise from their first single, ‘Industry plant’ talks threatened rightful music and musicians while the duo remained quiet on the matter.

Turns out, Katherine Parlour and Ella Risi were quiet for a reason. They were cooking up a storm with their first studio album.

Two years after their first introduction, Picture Parlour stake their claim in the new wave of rock music with their aptly-titled debut, The Parlour. A loose concept around The Parlour – an imaginative take on the duo’s gig roots, the duo take a righteous swing with youthful flamboyancy brimming with confidence.

Katherine’s smoky vocals and Ella’s enriching guitar workings come together almost like it was destined. There’s little wonder why there’s such a fuss over these two. There’s so many inspirations on offer here. The duo riff between Joan Jett’s grit. It’s that embodiment of the modern bark of The Beaches, all the while delivering with the self-assurance of Turner’s Arctic Monkeys. We’re blown into The Parlour. In this world, music is a myth and rebellion is refuge.

Cielo Drive is a swooning blitz of ’70s snazz while 24 Hr Open harks into the scuzzy darks of simple-but-effective rock riffage. Who’s There To Love Without You is another magic number with Katherine’s voice coming into its own here. Talk About It is a fast blast of very much playing out the book of an alt-rock stalwart. The iconic Norwegian Wood re-affirms itself by finding a spot on the record. The waltz turn of The Travelling Show begins. It makes you realise that there is indeed a concept here. It may be loose, but it’s present. Truthfully, it’s hard not to eek out Turner’s resemblance in the vocal semantics and melody lines. It’s these inevitably hard-to-avoid inspirations that hold this record back from grade A material. Fortunately, the duo’s skillset allows them to devise a multi-faceted debut that stands on its own amongst rock counterparts.

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Backed by an ambitious pairing, The Parlour has made its first stop. Their journey nothing short of cinematic, it’ll be intriguing to see just where else it will take them.

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