If you’re like me, you recognized that Nowhere Again took their Nom de Band from The Secret Machines song. In using that song title as their band name, these guys set the bar for themselves pretty high; TSM is beloved by many a music fan, and said fans really run the gamut from Indy Hipsters to Neo-Progronauts. Does Nowhere Again, the band, measure up?
The answer, my friends, is a resounding ‘Yes’. Even, maybe, a ‘Hell yes’. The name is an homage, but the music is dynamic in its own right (Like dearly departed Oceansize with Jane’s).
My first impression of the EP, after a complete run-through, is that these guys have drawn musically from many genres; I don’t know if it’s just me being old, but I definitely like to think I hear some Fugazi-like guitar shredding on ‘Now I am Twenty’. There are definite Prog Rock aspects as well, but some grunge and Shoegaze is masterfully incorporated.
Musically, I hear a lot of Radiohead influence, but with a twist: Robert Smith (The Cure) on vocals. Nowhere Again make it work and the vocals are solid. If vocals aren’t your thing, there is plenty going on with the guitars, rhythm section and effects to keep even the most critical listener engaged. These songs are technical, but not sterile.
Second track ‘Eighteen’ starts as a dreamy, ethereal track, but kicks in with a much more pronounced bass line and heavier drums. The guitar solo in this tune is what made me think of Fugazi, and it positively shreds. So far, this is a frontrunner for me on this EP, followed closely by the song ‘June’.
The only track that I have not really taken to is ‘Heliopause’. It’s a sort of noise and feedback interlude that sounds like a Tool soundscape and whale songs playing in a wind tunnel. It’s cool, but I get impatient but my bet is that ‘Heliopause’ is very cool to see and hear live.
The other songs (‘Last Human’,‘Hardman Square’and ‘Plans) are all really good, listenable songs with a lot of sonic detail layered in. No one song on ‘Now I am Twenty’ is weak, and each seems to have had a lot of thought put into it.
‘Now I am Twenty’ is definitely worth many listens. If you like expansive, layered songs that build and change and evolve throughout, then you will love this EP. Hopefully, new material (which is supposed to be a bit harder!) is forthcoming. Nowhere Again will always have a place on my playlist as long as they keep making cool, interesting music.
Released May 09 on Superstar Destroyer
Posted by Jake on May 11, 2011
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