RECORD REVIEW: WILD NOTHING

Reviews

Monday, 24 September 2012 01:50

Wild Nothing Facebook

When Jack Tatum released the EP, Golden Haze in 2010, which sported its to-die-for title track, the direction of his Wild Nothing project was clear. Gone was the less than perfect production values of his promising and impressive debut album, Gemini, to be replaced with a dream-like sheen that sat beautifully underneath his gorgeous take on pop music. On his second album, the stunning Nocturne, Tatum has continued the move towards carefully cultivated pop perfection. The attention to detail in each track is clear as Wild Nothing mine the rich pop gold of the past and embellish it with a musical intelligence and respectful gloss that renders the familiar new in every sense. Anybody who thinks there's nothing fresh and vital here simply doesn't get independent pop music.

All eleven tracks are resplendently better for their additions and Tatum's vision is brought to the fore by Nicolas Vernhes meticulous production. More importantly every instrument is afforded a standout role. Wild Nothing, while Tatum's baby, is a band in every sense. The determination to democratise the sum of Nocturne's parts makes the album an intriguing listen in virtuosity. The rhythm section exudes a exceedindly warm bass sound coupled together with intuitively employed drum work. Melodically speaking, the intricate and intelligent guitar work and the lushful embrace of keyboards together with carefully chosen reverb laden production embellishments is not only intriguing, but makes for an incredibly addictive listen from beginning to end. And make no mistake, Tatum is a pop medium; he gifts us his blissful homage to pop history at every turn. It's almost as if he thinks the genre needs far more respect than it's afforded. He recoils from attention in a personal sense while at the same time putting his love for pop up in lights.

First single, 'Shadow' with its familiar guitar melody is finished off with lush, dramatic orchestration and the title track winds its way through you with its five minutes with splendidly intelligent guitar work. Lyrically, Tatum appropriately repeats the mantra, "Ooh, you can have me", in the chorus and while we know he's on about love and relationships, its as if he really is giving his all for the listener. And such generosity pervades the whole record. The slow beat that is put up against the faster paced vocal and music on the contemplative 'Through The Grass' is a songwriting masterstroke while the woozy four to the floor 'Only Heather', with its flute like keys and guitar licks stoke the flames of pop genius.

The almost funk like nature of the bass that together with the engulfing nature of the three chord key structure that is the base of the the deceptively laconic, 'Paradise' is yet another example of Tatum's genius. The loose yet taut guitar lick tops it off nicely. The hypnotic nature of the track fits its title and lyrical nature perfectly, "dancer in the night, playing with my eyes". 'Disappear Always' has a rhythm and guitar hook to die for. 'Counting Days' ebbs and flows beautifully. The driving bass and big drum sound of the urgent 'The Blue Dress' sparks instant comparisons to the The Cure c1989 Disintegration but without the downbeat aura. But here Tatum again gives us far more than a mimicry of that with the employment of long winding guitar melody that complements things nicely.

Nocturne is an outstanding listen from start to finish. Tatum has achieved a remarkable consistency not only with the attention to detail in each track in a songwriting and production sense but in the seamless way the record hangs together. Great pop albums tend to be over before you know it and so it is with Nocturne. There's no weak spots here. Tatum has triumphed in very sense, bringing his respect for the purity of pop to the fore. While it has a great deal of competition, Nocturne could just be the album of 2012.

James Stocker - September 24, 2012.

Paradise

Wild Nothing (USA)

From the album, 'Nocturne', Captured Tracks.

Audio Stream

No Frames

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK

May 21, 2013

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The Flaming Lips Official Site

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2. Be Free, A Way

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7. Butterfly, How Long Does It Take To Die

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James Blake Official Site

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Rabid Records

The Knife Official Site

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Matador

Kurt Vile Official Site

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8. Shame Chamber

9. Snowflakes Are Dancing

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April 23, 2013

SALLY SHAPIRO (SWE)

Somewhere Else

Paper Bag

Sally Shapiro Official Site

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1. Prescript

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3. All My Life

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7. Starman (feat. Electric Youth)

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10. Don't Be Afraid (feat. Anoraak)

11. Architectured Love (feat. Le Prix)

12. Postscript

*NOTE: Vinyl tracklisting

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April 16, 2013

PHOSPHORESCENT (USA)

Muchacho

Dead Oceans

Phosphorescent Official Site

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April 9, 2013

YOUTH LAGOON (USA)

Wondrous Bughouse

Fat Possum

Youth Lagoon Facebook

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April 2, 2013

AUTRE NE VEUT (USA)

Anxiety

Mexican Summer / Software

Autre Ne Veut Facebook

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2. Counting

3. Promises

4. Ego Free Sex Free

5. A Lie

6. Warning

7. Gonna Die

8. Don't Ever Look Back

9. I Wann Dance With Somebody

10. World War

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March 26, 2013

DOLDRUMS (CAN)

Lesser Evil

Arbutus

Doldrums Official Site

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1. Intro

2. Anomaly

3. She Is The Wave (feat. Guy Dallas)

4. Sunrise

5. Egypt

6. Holographic Sandcastles

7. Singularity Acid Face

8. Live Forever

9. Golden Calf

10. Lost In Everyone

11. Painted Black

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March 19, 2013

BEACH FOSSILS (USA)

Clash The Truth

Captured Tracks

Beach Fossils Facebook

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8. Burn You Down

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11. Brighter

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13. Ascension

14. Crashed Out

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MY BLOODY VALENTINE (IRE)

mbv

Self Released

My Bloody Valentine Official Site

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March 5, 2013

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (AUS)

Push The Sky Away

Self Released

Nick Cave Official Site

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4. Jubilee Street

5. Mermaids

6. We Real Cool

7. Finishing Jubilee Street

8. Higgs Boson Blues

9. Push The Sky Away

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February 26, 2013

DUCKTAILS (USA)

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Domino

Ducktails Facebook

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2. The Flower Lane

3. Under Cover

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February 19, 2013

INDIANS (DEN)

Somewhere Else

4AD

Indians Facebook

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4. Magic Kids

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February 12, 2013

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A Toast To...

Bedroom Suck

Superstar Official Site

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February 5, 2013

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One Little Indian

Ólöf Arnalds Facebook

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------------------------------

TOP 30 PLAYER

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THE TOP TEN

1. Overgrown
James Blake (ENG)

2. Pathos Y Lagrimas
Mood Rings (USA)

3. Shut Up
Savages (USA)

4. Heartbreaks + Setbacks
Thundercat (USA)

5. Echeance
Police Des Moeurs (CAN)

6. Mute
Youth Lagoon (USA)

7. Never Run Away
Kurt Vile (USA)

8. The Painter
Brittsommar (USA/SWE)

9. If It Doesn't Rain
Sally Shapiro (SWE)

10. Tonight We Fall
ADULT. (USA)

FULL CHART CLICK HERE

---------------------------------

ON THE TURNTABLE

James Blake (ENG) - Overgrown (Polydor/Universal Republic)

The Knife (SWE) - Shaking The Habitual (Rabid)

Kurt Vile (USA) - Wakin On A Pretty Daze (Matador)

Deerhunter (USA) - Monomania (4AD)

The Flaming Lips (USA) - The Terror (Warner)

Savages (ENG) - Silence Yourself (Matador)

Vampire Weekend (USA) - Modern Vampires Of The City

ADULT. (USA) - The Way Things Fall (Ghostly International)

Kisses (USA) - Kids In LA (Cascine)

Small Black (USA) - Limits Of Desire (Jagjaguwar)

Dirty Beaches (USA) - Drifters/Love Is The Devil - Zoo Music

Saturday Looks Good To Me (USA) - One Kiss Ends It All (Polyvinyl)

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