Wild Nothing: Nocturne
Wild Nothing: Nocturne — The sophomoric album from Wild Nothing titled Nocturne dropped on August 28, arriving two years after the successful release of the debut album Gemini with the same dream pop sounds and more thoughtful production.
Nocturne revolves around themes of summer and night, with plenty of love, of course. There is a consistent flow to the album in the way the songs fit together. At certain moments, the repetition of sounds and themes allows the listener to fall into a dream state, relaxed, but sometimes too much. The strength of some songs is lacking in others, leaving more to be desired, but what the album does have is worth a listen.
The first tracks of Nocturne are by far the most memorable. Opening the album is the song titled ‘Shadow’ and it’s one of the standout tracks, if not the standout. It’s catchy enough to be an effective pop song and the soothing vocals combine with string accompaniments to make the perfect entrance into a musical experience. If only the whole album contained the dynamics and power of this song.
The following track, ‘Midnight Song’, feels more subdued than its predecessor, setting the tone for the rest of the album, but it still contains foot-tapping pop sensibilities. Up next comes the title track ‘Nocturne’ with those same synth-driven melodious yet hazy sounds. With a chorus that says, “I know where to find you/I know where you go/And I just want to let you know/You can have me/You can have me all” one can’t help but feel a sense of neediness, like there is a stalker approaching, and it’s too much, but you’re too far in to back out now. You might as well let the rest run its course.
‘Through the Grass’ is the last song in the list to leave an impression. With pretty guitar work and whispering, steamy vocals that sing, “I let you go/You let me in/I want you,” it’s the perfect song for the fleeting romances of summer and backyard make-out sessions. Once it’s over, there’s eight more songs to go and none of them stand out from the others. Track number six is called ‘This Chain Won’t Break’ and provides an ironic song title, considering the album feels like it keeps going without having a real need to do so.
Nocturne has its strengths early on, but the gusto is lost quickly. It’s a well-constructed album with lovely, romantic sounds and lyrics, but it’s not brave enough to make you remember it once the last song fades out. It’s nice while it plays in the background, allowing you to float amongst your own thoughts, but by the end it becomes tiresome, enough to lull you to sleep, which is perhaps where the record got its name…7/10