Nightchoir - See The First Star Album Review
It'd be easy to try and compare the new Nightchoir album to Pluto's music. After all, Nightchoir consists of three members of Pluto, so you’d expect there to be some musical similarities and spillover. But to do that would be to ignore the fact that Nightchoir is a different beast all together, and the similarities with Pluto are few and far between.
Nightchoir play on subtleties, using layers of simple melodies to build exquisite textural lullabies and ballads that invite the listener to engage with the music, rather than passively listen. The band seldom strays into rock territory on the album, only touching on their work before Nightchoir on a couple of track, providing interesting interludes in an otherwise laid back set of tunes.
There's a lovely warm tone throughout the album, and it's a tone that suits their music well. There are no rough edges here, and the songs have an organic feel to them that will draw you right in, after a slightly misleading intro to the album, that is. This is an album that's made to be listened to right through, in a single sitting; there's clearly been some thought put into how the album is structured, and the resulting flow works a treat.
All accomplished musicians with long histories in the local music scene, this Auckland trio clearly know how to work well together and give each other space to create and enhance their songs. Mike Hall’s vocals in particular are perfectly placed within each song, never drawing attention away from the accompaniment, yet at the same time never being overwhelmed by what's going on with the instruments.
This is an album that deserves repeated listens; take your time with it, let the music grow on you, and you will be rewarded by what you discover.
View Track Listing
About Nightchoir
On top of a decade playing together in Pluto, Matthias Jordan, Michael Franklin- Browne and Mike Hall have shared their talents with a number of other local musicians and bands including Dimmer, Pajama Club, Gin Wigmore, Stereobus, Julia Deans, Anna Coddington, Head Like a Hole and The Brunettes.
Nightchoir was once considered a side project to Pluto, but after the success of their first album in 2010, ’24 Hours of Night’, received rave reviews proved this is a band to watch:
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Nightchoir
Other Reviews By Alistar3000
The Upbeats - Primitive Technique Album Review
21 Apr 2013 // by Alistar3000
Wellington drum and bass duo The Upbeats have forged a reputation over the past 9 years for their hard hitting, dance inducing tracks and they’ve kept to that winning formula on their latest release, Primitive Technique. It’s packed full of 14 huge tracks, ranging from the jaunty One Step, to the almost menacing opening track Beyond Reality, with a few mellower tracks thrown in for good measure.
Read More...
Tahuna Breaks - Live @ San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington - 13/04/2013
14 Apr 2013 // by Alistar3000
I’ve been listening to the new Tahuna Breaks album, Shadow Light, a bit lately and got to go see the release show for it at Wellington’s San Francisco Bathhouse on Saturday. I’d enjoyed the album, which is quite energetic, upbeat and fun, so I was expecting a pretty good show from the Auckland 7-piece.
Read More...
Tahuna Breaks - Shadow Light Album Review
07 Apr 2013 // by Alistar3000
Tahuna Breaks were one of those bands that I’d heard mentioned a lot but never got around to listening to, until I got sent a copy of their third album Shadow Light. After listening to it I don’t know why these guys aren’t better known here, or why I hadn’t listened to them earlier.
Read More...
Beastwars - Blood Becomes Fire Album Review
07 Apr 2013 // by Alistar3000
Beastwars’ debut album in 2011 was an impressive display of sludge that garnered them a lot of attention, so I was a little apprehensive when I found out that I would be reviewing the follow up, Blood Becomes Fire. Would it be as good?
Read More...
Urbantramper - Tomorrow We Leave Here EP Review
24 Mar 2013 // by Alistar3000
Wellington’s Urbantramper really impressed me with last year’s album Internet Freedom Is Love. I really liked their blend of indie folk and downbeat electronica – it had a dark streak through it that I found interesting, yet they maintained a pop feel to their songs.
Read More...
Badd Energy - Underwater Pyramids Album Review
17 Mar 2013 // by Alistar3000
When I tried listening to the new Badd Energy album the first time I had to stop it and walk away. There was something about it that just put me off and I couldn’t listen to it.
Read More...
Homegrown 2013 Review
11 Mar 2013 // by Alistar3000
The 2nd of March brought the annual Homegrown festival to Wellington once more and I headed along to get some photos, check out some bands I hadn’t seen live before and soak up the atmosphere of 17,000 happy music fans enjoying the best of our local talent. Last year I seemed to spend most of my time at the Rock Stage, so this year I thought I’d try and check out the stages where I wouldn’t normally hang out.
Read More...
Killing Bear and About The Deadlines @ Mighty Mighty, Wellington, 15/02/13
20 Feb 2013 // by Alistar3000
Wellington was treated to not one, but two, album releases last Friday at Mighty Mighty. Kapiti duo Killing Bear and Wellington four-piece About The Deadlines both had new recordings to celebrate and where better to do it than at Mighty Mighty.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Gigs Today
- Tenacious D
OPERA HOUSE WELLINGTON - Laura Collins
MUSSEL INN BUSH CAFE - Aldous Harding
DARK ROOM
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- BLURRED LINES
Robin Thicke feat. TI And Pharrell - GET LUCKY
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell - LET HER GO
Passenger - RADIOACTIVE
Imagine Dragons - AFRICA
Toto - ROYALS
Lorde - FEEL THIS MOMENT
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera - CAN'T HOLD US
Macklemore And Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton - MIRRORS
Justin Timberlake - SKINNY LOVE
Birdy
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
