All posts tagged nikko

  • July 20, 2010

    Mess+Noise Mid-Year Report 2010: my top five

    Mess+Noise asked their critics to pick their top five Australian releases so far this year. I chose these:

    Mess+Noise: An Australian music websiteThe Gin Club
    Deathwish (LP, Plus One Records)
    With nine songwriters in the mix across the genres of rock, folk and pop, The Gin Club’s fourth full-length could easily have fallen victim to too-many-cooks syndrome. It didn’t. Instead, it’s one of the best Australian albums of recent memory.
    Read Andrew’s review here.

    Halfway
    An Outpost Of Promise (LP, Plus One Records)
    This Brisbane alt-country act contain as many members as The Gin Club, but on this release, the songwriting of core duo John Busby and Chris Dale is informed by the direction of Go-Betweens co-founder (turned album producer) Robert Forster. The result is 10 finely-honed songs that bear a homely, barroom feel.
    Read Andrew’s review here.

    Nikko
    The Warm Side (LP, Tenzenmen)
    Another Brisbane band – swear I’m not biased. Post-rock with vocals done well.
    Read Andrew’s review here.

    Faux Pas
    Noiseworks (LP, Sensory Projects/Heroics)
    Outrageous, otherworldly electronic pop written in a Melbourne bedroom. An outstanding debut.

    Parades
    Foreign Tapes (LP, Dot Dash/Remote Control)
    This one was overwhelmingly dense upon first listen, and took a few listens to reveal its genius. Unconventional pop songs dressed up in the always-awkward “art rock” tag. I’m glad I gave it time. You should too.

    Visit Mess+Noise to see the rest of the critics’ picks.

    What are your top five Australian releases of 2010 so far?

    3 Comments / Music Criticism /

  • July 20, 2010

    Mess+Noise album review: Nikko – ‘The Warm Side’, July 2010

    An album review for Mess+Noise.

    'The Warm Side' album cover by Brisbane band NikkoNikko – The Warm Side

    “More rock, fuck post-,” state Nikko on their MySpace page. Why, I’m not sure. I can think of several counterpoints to their refusal to position themselves as post-rock. One, they’re so firmly lodged within the genre – without hyperbole, they’re worthy of being listed alongside international greats like Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky – that to describe them as anything else would be misleading. Two, there aren’t many national bands trying to stake a claim within these musical confines (aside from the recently decamped The Dead Sea and fellow Brisbane natives Castles Sunk Below The Sea). Third, since when is post-rock something to be ashamed of? Fourth and most importantly, they do it well.

    The Warm Side is Nikko’s debut album, following their formation five years ago. Fittingly, these nine songs have been subject to a long gestation process: the recordings were completed in August 2009, whereafter the band shopped it to labels before finding a home with Sydney’s Tenzenmen (Scul Hazzards, Paint Your Golden Face). There are no corners cut here, and not a moment wasted.

    Full review at Mess+Noise, where you can also stream the title track. More Nikko on their MySpace.

    No Comments / Music Criticism, Published Writing /