Nostalgia is in, and what's old is now hotter than what's new. What was once considered dated, or "so last year" is now coveted and celebrated. That can be applied to music, movies, and the majority of other art forms across nearly any platform. There is a certain demand for more acts like Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, but it's rather unfair to expect that same sound when we live in a time with a music scene filled to the brim with uniquely creative acts. However, for those into the revival of past trends and musical styles, the new Nap Eyes album Thought Rock Fish Scale is aimed specifically at you.
The sounds of Atlantic Canada flow through the folk act's sophomore release, while the band also looks to incorporate influences from the likes of iconic art-rock group The Velvet Underground. The laid back guitar play and somber tone of the album are propelled by frontman Nigel Chapman's vocal approach, which does at times feel monotonous, and yet at other times fits in just perfectly. While the album is just a mere 34 minutes in runtime, it sees plenty of repetition and longer than expected tracks. The longest cut on the album, Lion in Chains, is an example of the four-piece taking advantage of said repetitious approach and extra song length as Chapman's voice fills your ears by soaring high above the instrumentation with his story telling as he pulls you into his own little world until the next track hits. It isn't always a positive when the songs happen to drag on for so long though, as cuts like Click Clack and Alaskan Shake both feel as if they simply should have wrapped up sooner, despite both being quite a bit shorter than the aforementioned Lion in Chains.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the project is just how prominent Josh Salter's bass is. It comes through both groovy and mellow, and on the opening cut Mixer, feels louder than any other instrument featured, which helps make it one of the best songs on the whole album. The project can only be explained by calling it the soundtrack to cracking open a cold beer on a sandy beach, thanks to the warm and welcoming guitar riffs and soothing, laid back drum patterns.
As far as the local Nova Scotian music scene goes, I haven't heard many acts that are worthy of discussion. Nap Eyes however, have proven themselves deserving of anyone and everyone's time of day with their latest release. It isn't anything new, and in fact it feels quite old. The album gives you that same feeling as finding an old childhood toy, or flipping through a photo album filled with pictures of your favorite summer. It's that atmosphere and sensation that not only keeps the album from being just another indie folk record, but also allows it to be accessible to music fans both young and old.
Favorite Tracks: Mixer, Lion in Chains, Trust
Least Favorite Tracks: Click Clack, Alaskan Shake
Rating: 3.5/5
You can download the band's album Thought Rock Fish Scale here.
Listen to Nap Eyes track Mixer below:
You can download the band's album Thought Rock Fish Scale here.
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