Dreamy ambient pop with some downtempo electronica influences,
Laurel doesn't do much that's new on his self-titled debut, but he does it really well. A solo project by Los Angeles-based composer Garrett Parks, who has previously worked under a variety of other project names,
Laurel has the dreamy, weightless feel, slightly retro vibe, and sly melodic smarts of
Air's
Moon Safari, the open-ended song structures of classic bliss-out ambient music, and a textural feel (with some possible world music influences) that's quite similar to much of
Bill Nelson's '80s work. The combination works beautifully, making
Laurel one of those rare downtempo albums that doesn't completely dissolve when the listener starts to pay close attention to its sound and structures.