South Africa’s iconic rock band The Parlotones close the curtain on their acclaimed Forgotten Songs series with the release of the fourth and final EP, Fresh Takes and Forgotten Tapes.
Out now, the collection offers fans a glimpse into the band’s creative vault with songs that were once overlooked or left unfinished but now see the light of day.
The Forgotten Songs series began as a nostalgic exploration, breathing new life into hidden gems from the band’s archives. From rediscovered demos to reimagined versions of fan favourites, the project has now spanned four EPs.
For EP 4, guitarist Paul Hodgson explains how the release was born out of the band’s lockdown downtime: “In 2020 and 2021 the band was mostly unable to perform due to lockdowns, curfews and other restrictions and so had time on our hands to write and record. Most of that turned into our Christmas album Strike the Harp.”
“But then we were asked to record a reimagined version of Colourful and a new track, which led us to rediscover Life in a Jar, a demo from the A World Next Door to Yours era that we had always hoped to record properly. Those sessions sparked the idea for the Forgotten Songs series.”
The six-track EP includes the updated 2021 recording of Colourful, the long-awaited studio version of Life in a Jar, and the original demos for Life in a Jar, Push Me to the Floor, The Impossible (featuring Kahn’s original guitar idea), and Shame on You.
“They are a bit rough but full of our early enthusiasm and creative spirit from four young guys still learning their songwriting, learning their instruments, and starting off on an amazing journey that has been the better part of most of our lives,” Hodgson adds.
While this marks the end of the Forgotten Songs series, The Parlotones hint that the nostalgia has sparked inspiration for new material, with a full-length album in the works despite the geographical distance between members in South Africa and the Netherlands.
You can stream the last part of the Forgotten Songs series HERE.
Fans can also catch The Parlotones live in Gauteng this October:
17 Oct 2025 – Jessica’s (West Rand) | Ticket link
18 Oct 2025 – Parklive Festival (Marks Park) | Ticket link
19 Oct 2025 – Barnyard Menlyn (Pretoria) | Ticket link
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
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