8 Oct 2024
UsernamePassword

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

Frau Knotz - EP Review: Nextraterrestrial

13 Sep 2024 // A review by Peter K Malthus


Frau Knotz is the performing name of multi-talented Lauren Nottingham, a singer, pianist, producer and composer based in New Plymouth. Having released the first of her singles in 2022, she now bestows her EP Nextraterrestrial upon then planet Earth. Along with her multitude of talents comes a multitude of influences: La Roux, Grimes, Robyn, Devin Townsend, Frost, and Dream Theater are some that she's cited.

Frau Knotz is an artist who uses the medium of music to paint huge, beautiful, and inspiring pictures. Nextraterrestrial is crafted as an otherworldly experience, to be experienced as a continuous whole (the final track is exactly that, and I highly recommend it, it's a magnificent listen, and each song perfectly gives way to the next. I love what this brings to experiencing these songs, being a child of the 70's, I'm still accustomed to listening to albums in their intended order, and it's very obvious that Frau Knotz has taken great care in constructing this track/listening experience).

The first track is the wonderfully titled Astral Faery On Her Float To The Moon, and the ensuing music paints a very vivid picture of just that, a light and sparkling melody, surrounded by luminous flashes and deep, dark rumbles, the whole thing infused with a sense of wonder and delight. Being quite the Sci-Fi nerd, I'm loving the interstellar theme, which is continued into the well-crafted, floaty New Wave/Avant-Pop style of Other Futures, a unique and fresh production, full and crisp, from the explosive beginning to the final breathy "Yeah...", Frau Knotz leads you gently by the hand through a brand new galaxy.

I'm a sucker for a lovely big run of arpeggios, so Odyssey I grabbed me immediately. A soaring vocal line is joined by some big bassy stabs just after the halfway mark of this short but sweet little beauty. Rush is a soft and romantic song, singing of the delicious rush of spending one-on-one time with the one you love, the world outside silenced and forgotten, only the two of you existing. Musically, a perfect rendering of that emotion. Blissful.

The Heart Of Spring continues the romantic theme, but with a more dance-inducing beat. No less gorgeously dreamy on the vocal melody front though, her voice a pure joy to listen to. Her prog influences show here too, a long, low, quiet breakdown subtly leads back into that super dance-worthy beat, into a passage where her voice bursts forth triumphantly, only to then lull the song to its end. In Odyssey II, a deep, intimidating voice speaks over an uncomfortable background, like a haunted fairground ride, of life in its disturbing aquarium, an "underworld of indigo" that sounds like an altogether unpleasant place to find oneself. An urgent and compelling feel drives the final track in the experience, Skimpy Jumperville, a fast-paced instrumental. A pulsing rhythm and a surging melody, interjected with choral stabs, multiple layers making this a tasty slice of aural lasagna.

Nextraterrestrial is an absolute must-listen. Luckily for you, it's available on Soundcloud, Spotify, Bandcamp, and Apple Music.

 

About Frau Knotz

The original songs of singer, pianist, producer and composer Lauren Nottingham have touched down on Earth under the moniker Frau Knotz. These avant-pop tracks simulate echoes of an extra-terrestrial yet power-packed video game soundtrack in which La Roux, Grimes and Robyn are characters With lyrics that draw from daring, playful scenarios to heartfelt, ubiquitous musings faced by modern society, added to dramatic synths and driving rhythms, Frau Knotz is not afraid to expose all sides of her three-dimensional character. Her voice is powerfully emotive and futuristic, often juxtaposing human tenderness and fragility with a post-apocalyptic, synthesized alter ego.

Complex modulations of harmony glitter throughout her music from a university degree in jazz and over a decade of fangirling over progressive rock legends such as Devin Townsend, Frost and Dream Theater.

Channeling rave nostalgia and Eurodisco, Frau Knotz toggles between whimsical fantasies and dark truths, switches propulsive rhythms and expansive balladry and tunes glamor with gameplay to concoct elixirs of dance. Get ready; Frau Knotz vows to take you on a deep sonic odyssey beneath her blissful blonde brain.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Frau Knotz

Releases

Nextraterrestrial
Year: 2024
Type: EP

Other Reviews By Peter K Malthus

Gig Review: Jan Hellriegel @ The Piano, Christchurch - 04/10/2024
06 Oct 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
It's always a treat to get to go see a show at Christchurch's beautiful The Piano, and sit in its stunning auditorium. Unfortunately, I arrived slightly late due to some teenage hijinks on the home front, so I missed the start of Steffany Beck's set.
Read More...
Goodwill - Album Review: Kind Hands
03 Oct 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Goodwill is the solo project of producer, songwriter, and former nomad member Will McGillivray. Having been songwriting over the last couple of years since the release of the Incontrol EP, Goodwill is releasing Kind Hands, a debut album of nine tracks.
Read More...
Jai Bartlett - Album Review: Echoes
11 Sep 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Jai Bartlett is from Wellington, where he creates his "Alternative Hip-Hop", a description that immediately had me interested. He describes his debut album Echoes as "diverse", and I had the pleasure of discovering what an understatement that is.
Read More...
Festival Review: Go Live! Festival @ Town Hall, Christchurch - 17/08/2024
18 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Christchurch City Council's Winter music festival, Go Live!, is now in its fifth year.
Read More...
The Early 20’s - EP Review: Vultures
16 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Whilst citing influences so broad and diverse as to be "way too many" to list, and those influences are drawn from "anywhere and everywhere", The Early 20's will have you believe that at the end of the day, they're a punk band. Defining one's band's genre can often be difficult, especially in cases like this where a multitude of influences are at play.
Read More...
Al Park - Album Review: Monkey
15 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Al Park is an integral part of the Christchurch music scene, woven deep into the fabric of the city's musical history. From his early days in the punk scene, through to packing houses with either Louie and the Hot Sticks or with The Latter Day Sinners, manning the counter at the iconic Echo records or behind the bar at his legendary venue Al's Bar, and being a champion of many of the exponents of the "Lyttelton Sound", Al has contributed immeasurable amounts of time, energy, and soul into his passion for music.
Read More...
Gig Review: Shepherds Reign @ A Rolling Stone, Christchurch - 8/08/2024
10 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
I was stoked to get to go check out this show, it was my second time seeing both bands on the bill, so I had fairly high expectations. Those expectations weren't just met, they were blown right out of the water.
Read More...
Hateseeker - EP Review: More Songs About Sex And Death
02 Aug 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
First of all, I just want to say how much I appreciate a really good band name, and I reckon Hateseeker is one of the best I've heard in quite a while, one of those "man I wish I'd thought of that" names. It's a pretty safe bet that you know what you're going to get, with that name.
Read More...
View All Articles By Peter K Malthus

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TIMELESS
    The Weeknd And Playboi Carti
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • TOO SWEET
    Hozier
  • BEAUTIFUL THINGS
    Benson Boone
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