The National Parks toy with creative freedom on their fourth outing

They blossom on their own, they bloom without human intervention and they are unburdened by conformity. With this in mind, let us present to you The National Parks and their aptly titled fourth full-length album, Wildflower.

With a sound that is rooted in folk-infused indie pop, the Utah four-piece have quietly grown into an independent phenomenon. Their new album Wildflower sees the band defy genre limitations and experiment with the sounds of indie-pop, cinematic electronics and raw orchestration, blossoming into a free-spirited and fun record.

Opening with “Superbloom,” the one minute track sets the scene for the rest of the album perfectly. A harmonica, banjo, violin, acoustic guitar and choral vocals crescendo throughout the 60 seconds before blasting into the distorted riff of the title track.

Vocalist and guitarist, Brady Parks, believes this title track to be “probably the most rock’n’roll song we’ve ever done.” Parks’ impressive vocals are complemented by the harmonies of Sydney Macfarlane, the male / female vocal dynamic adding another dimension to their sound, With a soaring chorus and an earworm of a melody, it is sure to be an album highlight.

The quartet’s folk roots have drawn comparisons to Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers in the past. These folk characteristics are evident within the instrumentation on the toe-tapping “Waiting for Lightning.”

Yet the Utah band are keen to show that they have more strings to their bow. From the urban sounds that open “Mother Nature” to the vulnerable acoustic tones of “Daze,” Wildflower symbolises the growth of ambition and the freedom to experiment with different genres. This experimentation is showcased in “Painted Sky,” a standout Spaghetti Western tinged track that conjures images of the Wild West, highlighting how musically versatile the band really are.

Wildflower truly blossoms through its creative freedom and ability to merge different genres whilst still stamped in that distinctive The National Parks sound. With this in mind, it seems that the sky really is the limit for this quartet.