EP 1 - The Early Recordings
The first official Parlotones release was a 4-track EP called “Superstars” recorded at B Sharp Studios which was only ever available on CD and featured the songs Superstars, Shine, Ghosts and Stare at the Sun. Martin Schofield from Wonderboom helped produce this album and the band was also assisted by John Boyd. John would later join the band for a while and contributed to songs from “Episoda” and “Radio Controlled Robot” with his Roland 303 Groovebox.
Shortly after this EP, The Parlotones were given a day in the SABC studios. They recorded two songs (For Heaven’s Sake and Butterfly) which were never released. These songs are all now available for the first time on streaming platforms. Three more EPs are planned for release through the year, consisting of variety of old and new recordings, demo songs, covers and remixes.
We hope you enjoy this glimpse into a small part of the journey through rehearsal rooms and studios, and see what happens beyond just the songs that make it onto an album.
About
Formed in 1998, The Parlotones are Kahn Morbee, Neil Pauw and brothers Glen and Paul Hodgson. Rob Davidson joined the band full-time in 2017 and Trevor Rebello in 2023.
The Parlotones have released nine studio albums: Episoda (2003), RadioControlledRobot (2005), A World Next Door to Yours (2007), Stardust Galaxies (2009), Journey Through the Shadows (2012), Stand Like Giants (2013), Antiques and Artefacts (2015), China (2018) and Strike the Harp (2020). They also have three live albums; Unplugged (2008), Live Design (2010) and Orchestrated (2017).
Other releases include Eavesdropping on the Songs of Whales (2011) Trinkets, Relics and Heirlooms (2016), Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (2019) and Rob Rocket remixes of “Stardust Galaxies”, “Solar System”, “Remember When”and “Stars Fall Down”. China was released as a new album to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the band. The album was named after the traditional wedding gift for couples celebrating 20 years of marriage and was recorded at High Seas Studios in Johannesburg.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue was recorded shortly afterwards and was a collection of reinterpreted versions of songs from previous albums. In 2020 the band recorded a Christmas album called Strike the Harp which featured original songs as well as traditional Christmas songs. Fans from around the world sent voice-notes to the band which were included between the songs.
Initially the album was going to be called It’s Been a Bad Year Santa but was deemed too negative and the band wanted to put some positive energy into the world.
After 2020 the band went through several changes including Kahn and Glen moving to the Netherlands and the band was in semi-hiatus until they started playing some shows again in South Africa including the Splashy Fen music festival.
During this time, long-time collaborator and session musician Trevor Rebello was included as a full-time band member. In 2024, while going through some old hard drives, Paul Hodgson discovered many old recordings of demo songs and unreleased music going back to the early days of the band.
These songs will be grouped into themed EPs and released over the course of the year, giving the fans a unique look into the history of the band and how songs are shaped over time. These-yet unnamed EPs are grouped into Early Recordings, Covers & Remixes, Previously Unreleased Songs, New Recordings and Demo Songs.
About
Formed in 1998, The Parlotones are Kahn Morbee, Neil Pauw and brothers Glen and Paul Hodgson. Rob Davidson joined the band full-time in 2017 and Trevor Rebello in 2023.
The Parlotones have released nine studio albums: Episoda (2003), RadioControlledRobot (2005), A World Next Door to Yours (2007), Stardust Galaxies (2009), Journey Through the Shadows (2012), Stand Like Giants (2013), Antiques and Artefacts (2015), China (2018) and Strike the Harp (2020). They also have three live albums; Unplugged (2008), Live Design (2010) and Orchestrated (2017).
Other releases include Eavesdropping on the Songs of Whales (2011) Trinkets, Relics and Heirlooms (2016), Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (2019) and Rob Rocket remixes of “Stardust Galaxies”, “Solar System”, “Remember When”and “Stars Fall Down”. China was released as a new album to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the band. The album was named after the traditional wedding gift for couples celebrating 20 years of marriage and was recorded at High Seas Studios in Johannesburg.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue was recorded shortly afterwards and was a collection of reinterpreted versions of songs from previous albums. In 2020 the band recorded a Christmas album called Strike the Harp which featured original songs as well as traditional Christmas songs. Fans from around the world sent voice-notes to the band which were included between the songs.
Initially the album was going to be called It’s Been a Bad Year Santa but was deemed too negative and the band wanted to put some positive energy into the world.
After 2020 the band went through several changes including Kahn and Glen moving to the Netherlands and the band was in semi-hiatus until they started playing some shows again in South Africa including the Splashy Fen music festival.
During this time, long-time collaborator and session musician Trevor Rebello was included as a full-time band member. In 2024, while going through some old hard drives, Paul Hodgson discovered many old recordings of demo songs and unreleased music going back to the early days of the band.
These songs will be grouped into themed EPs and released over the course of the year, giving the fans a unique look into the history of the band and how songs are shaped over time. These-yet unnamed EPs are grouped into Early Recordings, Covers & Remixes, Previously Unreleased Songs, New Recordings and Demo Songs.
