As we heard in the recent interview, this EP of three NIKOLI tunes is being pushed out this Summer to mark some territory for an album in progress, and to offer through gigs and the web as interest builds.
On a measure of industry standards its packaging, art work and (especially) music production are shoulder to shoulder with the best. No concessions to indie home-knit are required.
On a measure of the music itself, well, it’s a big one. There's some large guitar and mighty vocal strength in depth. The songs and general perfectionist intolerance of idle fills or poorly resolved lines puts me in mind of Forever Changes. Mmm. That one. When Tim Hann, James Brunger, Spencer Bayles and Simon Miller line up and bang it out together we are not talking about light weight hobbyists. (and we have heard a few of those in our time, eh?). It sounds refreshingly like a group, playing together with a tension and urgency – it sure doesn’t sound like a singer songwriter with some sidekicks pasted in by Pro Tools. And I'm a sucker for any band with a drummer who sings this well.
"Gently talk Me Down" has (improbably) a Mark Linkous kind of harsh/beautiful contrast thing going. NIKOLI at full stretch are effortlessly gorgeous when two, three or four four voices take off against the nudging warmth of synth, bass, drums and guitar. But this track starts things in a harsher place. Just so as you don’t go thinking they're Coldplay or something. Gradually, the richer sounds push their way in and by chorus time it’s head back and everybody sing.
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"Locked Out" is somewhere out in Lloyd Cole territory. Adult regret, a sense of guilt, and those seductive vocal harmonies are the main ingredients. In the meantime a nicely acerbic guitar line manipulates the emotions away from the easy comfort of Beach Boy land. And it’s short.
I like.
The four minutes 42 of "Always" have a big rousing chorus and a fabulous little secondary piano tune that comes in for the last section. (These piano lines are one of NIKOLI's distinctive weapons, I've noticed) We finish with a rasp of feedback and a strong feeing of satisfied mind.
www.nikoli.co.uk
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