29 Mar 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Owlet Nightjar - Album Review: The Regenerative Principle

23 Nov 2017 // A review by Ria Loveder

Named after an extinct flightless bird in New Zealand, Owlet-Nightjars' are an amalgamation of unusual and attention-grabbing concepts. Their debut album, The Regenerative Principle is a mixture of sounds, featuring elements of soul, dub, blues, reggae, rock, pop and psychedelic. It is a concept album based on a quote from ‘Understanding Shiva’ by D.K Hari and D.K Hema Hari.

“Only when the flower dies do we get the fruit.

Only when the fruit is destroyed do its seeds come out.

Only when the seed breaks open can the new plant emerge to give us more flowers and fruits once again.”

Owlet Nightjar have decided to take this quite literally, with each track relating to a stage in the life cycle of a tree but also they have wanted the encompass the partly random or chaotic phenomena that is reality, as they have stated themselves on their album “The fractal nature of reality comes into play. Synchronicity abounds. As above, so below. The album becomes a microcosm to any macrocosm you choose. A self-contained monad reflecting reality back to itself through the medium of consciousness”.

A project born by guitarist Tim Key from Newtown Rocksteady, this Wellington based band also includes Thomas Friggens on drums from Brockaflower and Bazurka, Raw Collective's Blain Fitzpatrick on bass and Tim’s father, Ted, on keys. Various special guests and musically minded friends also feature throughout this album, making it an eclectic mix of talent.

What I love about this album is how well executed it is. Due to it being an album that has such a diverse range of musical numbers, it has the potential to sound messy and disjointed. However, with its writing and order of songs, it sounds seamless, with the album weaving in and out of numerous genres appealing to a range of music listeners. Even if you’re not a fan of one genre of music in the album, it is still most certainly something that can be appreciated and respected.

My favourite tracks on the album; Big Trees Fall, with an almost rock opera style intro, it immediately had me hooked, with the beautiful contrast of female and male voices over psychedelic sounding guitar then kicking into a reggae styled verses. And We Already Know, which begins with a choir group singing, infused with gospel notations, the sombre tone contrasts beautiful when the guitar, drums, keys and vocals kick in.

Special mention also must be made to the cover art of the album. I know we are taught never to judge a book by its cover, but it was Owlet Nightjar's album cover that first drew me in to listen to them. A surreal image of skulls, mushrooms, roses, geometric shapes and birds, it’s a psychedelic inspired image that is beautifully created and a stunning piece of standalone art.

This album is a wonderful fusion of genres, appealing to a range of music lovers and enthusiasts. It proves that artists don’t have to be known by a particular ‘sound’, and if you needed some more persuasion as to why you should give this album a listen, I will leave you with a quote from Owlet Nightjar themselves. This album is “more or less what we think trees would sound like if they could jam”. And who doesn’t want to listen to that?


Review written by Ria Loveder

 

About Owlet Nightjar

Owlet Nightjar is a new project from Newtown Rocksteady guitarist Tim Key. The Wellington-based band features Thomas Friggens on drums (Brockaflower, Bazurka etc...), Blain Fitzpatrick on bass (Raw Collective, etc...) and Tim’s Dad Ted on keys, with various friends and special guests dropping in.

They play a unique blend of soul, dub and blues incorporating elements of pop, reggae, psychedelic rock and hip-hop.

They’ve just released their debut album The Regenerative Principle, which is a concept album about trees and the Hindu god Shiva.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Owlet Nightjar

Releases

The Regenerative Principle
Year: 2017
Type: Album

Other Reviews By Ria Loveder

Gig Review: L.A.B. @ Black Barn, Hawke's Bay - 22/12/2019
11 Jan 2020 // by Ria Loveder
The weather leading to Sunday 22nd of December was unreliably sprinkled with a little bit of unpredictability. Luckily for the people that flocked to the gorgeous Black Barn Amphitheatre in the Hawke’s Bay to the sold-out L.
Read More...
Jessy & The Volunteers - Single Review: Phone Face
06 Aug 2019 // by Ria Loveder
For lovers of blues, funk and everything else in between, you have found yourself in the right place. Created and grown into a sexy meld of soul and RnB in a basement in Auckland, Jessy & The Volunteers’ have debuted their song and video Phone Face.
Read More...
Annie J - Single Review: Whenever You Leave Me
31 Mar 2019 // by Ria Loveder
Annie J’s song Whenever You Leave Me is one that all teenagers can relate to; that relationship that you want to be in, but distance seems to come creeping in. The lyrics are mature beyond her years and at the young age of 15; she’s showing that she has the writing capabilities to produce mature, insightful music.
Read More...
Two Cartoons - Single Review: Less People (Less Traffic)
29 Oct 2018 // by Ria Loveder
Back in 2015 I reviewed Two Cartoons EP Lost Boys Club and raved about how they seem to so effortlessly create tunes that need to be sung loud and proud. Three years later, their latest single Less People (Less Traffic) is no exception.
Read More...
Nicole Andrews - Album Review: A Stranger
04 May 2018 // by Ria Loveder
In 2015 I reviewed Nicole Andrews’ album In The Shallows and raved about her rawness and connection with her music. Needless to say, her second album A Stranger has done it again.
Read More...
nomad - Album Review: Can You Feel It?
13 Apr 2018 // by Ria Loveder
nomad soared into popularity with their catchy infectious pop tune Oh My My in 2016. After their song reached gold sales and they were nominated for Best Newcomers at the NZ Music Awards they are back with their debut album Can You Feel It?
Read More...
Ha the Unclear - Single Review: Wallace Line
08 Apr 2018 // by Ria Loveder
My music taste over the past year has changed a wee bit, and I am loving music that harks back to the 80's, and Ha the Unclear do just that. Their eccentric sound is filled with unconventional retro alt-pop music making them the perfect backing track to the New Zealand summer, pity we have just come into Autumn!
Read More...
Tom Lee-Richards - Single Review: Out Of The Oddness
20 Feb 2018 // by Ria Loveder
An experimenter of music from a young age, Tom Lee-Richards' passion for songs and composition is evident in his array of work. His latest single Out Of The Oddness has dropped and it is one track I recommend you listen to.
Read More...
View All Articles By Ria Loveder

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
    Ariana Grande
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
  • END OF BEGINNING
    Djo
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TEXAS HOLD 'EM
    Beyonce
  • STICK SEASON
    Noah Kahan
  • PRAISE JAH IN THE MOONLIGHT
    YG Marley
  • CARNIVAL
    Kanye West And Ty Dolla $ign
  • SATURN
    SZA
  • LOVIN ON ME
    Jack Harlow
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
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 ProblemReport A Problem