Nothing – Say Less – New Single – Relapse Records
Nothing Say Less single is out on streaming formats and has a video.
I think I should say straight away I’ve been following Nothing since Guilty of Everything LP. I was lucky enough to find out about them and watch them grow since 2014 ish. What struck me really hard is the simplicity and the beauty of the songs on Guilty Of Everything. Their follow-up, Tired of Tomorrow proves to be darker, morose, yet there are some grunge and even pop moments. Click video link a few lines below.
Dance On The Blacktop has its moments of glory. Even though DOTB is not new I am still digesting it and will be for a while. Here is a favorite Nothing video of mine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjM0SRPXSUo
No matter what you think of Nothing they are evolving with each release. “Say Less” single seems like exponential evolution. Huge and heavy tribal drum beats open this up to a sonic web of reverb entanglement. Beats that come from Ride’s Vapor Trail , My Bloody Valentine, classic funk, and many more. I’ll always dig beats like this , especially when the accompanied music is either heavy or washed with time based delay/ reverb effects. The dream gaze textures weave together in a way that it’s tough to hear where they begin and end once the guitars ring and oscillate. When the guitars aren’t wailing like Kevin Shields ghosts of past the bass line is driving and ominous.
There are a few seconds of vocal samples which leave me nonplussed. Nevertheless I don’t care because the rest of the track is mesmerizing.
Dominic Palermo really shines with memorable vocal melodies that just soar above the swampy darkness.
These melodies seem to juggle and balance of the ominous bass and klaxon like guitar washes that come in and out. “Say Less ” is a very strong track and I cannot see a shoegaze fan not being able to find something great in it. Yes it’s that good. That is, of course if you are extremely particular or you like to be contrary on purpose. If the rest of the songs on Great Dismal are in this league, it’s going to be a monumental album.
Nothing “Say Less” video for the single features a dirty, older man that looks like he has been buried alive and left for dead. By dirty, literally covered with soil and almost looking like a Sasquatch.
This is your present,or near future… hipsters.
Besides the strange bearded forest man there are rich shots of scientific nature. Biological clips of cellular processes. Spinning and fast moving forest scenes. Double exposures with fire, lightning, crowds in a city. They are visually intriguing and move fast enough to keep the eyes moving.
Nothing will release a new LP called The Great Dismal October 30th on Relapse Records.
Here is what Relapse says regarding new LP
“Closing in on the band’s ten-year mark, NOTHING frontman Domenic Palermo finds himself stringing together songs of misanthropic tales of Philadelphia with a refined and refreshed take on the band’s classic sound. “The Great Dismal refers to a swamp, a brilliant natural trap where survival is custom fit to its inhabitants,” Palermo states. “The nature of its beautiful, but taxing environment and harsh conditions can’t ever really be shaken or forgotten too easily.” The ever progressive NOTHING keep true to their chaotic outlook on life, keeping a keen eye as to avoid repetition. With a radical cast of talented contributors such as harpist Mary Lattimore, https://meatsheetfanzine.com/mary-lattimore-new-track/ classical musician Shelley Weiss, and singer/songwriter/producer Alex G., The Great Dismal showcases yet another essential side of the band’s trademark American Post-Shoegaze.”
In addition to new singles and The Great Dismal LP being released on the web stay tuned here for a look back at Tired of Tomorrow with me, Dominic from Nothing, possibly Kyle, and or Brandon. (current or former band members) .
I caught up with them on tour when they came through and never had a chance to process the quick interview I did. Thanks for reading.