Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
10 Track, LP (2011, Lofly Records)
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Related: Nova Scotia.
After two EPs and several years spent gigging at every Brisbane venue imaginable, this self-titled album is indie rock quintet Nova Scotia’s first full-length. Released via Lofly Records and mixed by label co-founder Andrew White (Mr. Maps, restream), Nova Scotia is just as demonstrative of the band's songwriting abilities as their previous discs (2007's Bear Smashes Photocopier and 2008's Maritime Disasters), but the sonic differences here are instantly noticeable.
As great as those EPs were, the recording and production - or lack thereof - left a lot to be desired. Here, the instruments can each be heard clearly in the mix, but they haven't lost that sense of five dudes jamming in a room, which has always been a big part of Nova Scotia's charm.
Two re-recorded tracks from Photocopier ('Second Sun' and 'Everything's Perfect') appear early in the piece, and while they sound better than ever, here's where nostalgia ends. There isn't a bad idea on Nova Scotia; if anything, the songs get better as the record progresses. Instrumental opener 'Teeming With Voices' is seemingly intended as the band's theme song, and they frequently open their live sets with it too. Three different guitar tones sit atop clattering percussion. More than once, you get the feeling that it's all about to cave in on itself. This sense of tension pervades most of the tracks here, and crucially, it's an asset, not a distraction.
Elsewhere, singer/guitarist Scott Brique's idiosyncratic voice is high in the mix. Lyrically, his writing seems more stream-of-conscious than pre-planned – from questioning the location of past pop culture icons ("Where is MC Hammer? I thought he had a TV show...") to climactic non-sequiturs ("Tie me down/You'll never lead a horse to water").
Final track 'The World Is Not Enough' is the best cut they’ve put to tape. Built around an instant-classic bassline and subdued guitar licks - which must have been tough for the three guitarists – the song does an abrupt about-face at the halfway mark and becomes another thing entirely. The inclusion of brass instruments late in the piece is the final inspired decision on an album full of them.
by Andrew McMillen
Top song. look forward to picking up a copy of this!
... the launch for this rekkid is on this coming Saturday at the Hangar (151 Musgrave Rd, Red Hill) with Scraps, TapeOff and thee mighty Arbuckle ! NS also doing an instore at Tym Guitars (first instore) on Sunday at 2pm. go check 'em.
a pity about Saturday clashes, but will see them on Sunday! Still haven't been to new-Tyms yet, am looking forward to it.
Why do local acts name themselves after overseas locations? I, for one, get confused by this.
fuck that is an awesome song
Yes that is an amazing song! Wow. Just bought the record online through the lofly website. Have seen NS live too - so massive and glorious.
Yep, this album is awesome. Nice to see it getting a review on here (I kinda figured it would probably fly under M+N's radar like a lot of good Brisbane releases).
ps- the first song is called Teeming With Voices. Teeming With Wildlife was a Brisbane indie band from a couple of years back.
What is this weird thing about Brisbane feeling like they're being ignored by other states? Seems to me that every third release on M+N is by some pissy Brisbane band. Where's statsbot when you need him?
Mess+Noise needs to review more bands from Manildra.
That said, the song featured here is a pretty decent Pavement-esque effort. I bet Ian Rogers loves it ;)
sounds unfeasible
What, like a contradiction in terms, _v?
Yeah, that's the thing. M+N seems to give plenty of coverage to Brisbane's mediocre, career-oriented guitar pop groups, while overlooking a lot of the genuinely exciting and interesting stuff that happens here.
Brisbane gets a fair go these days for sure, thanks mostly to Andrew McMillen. We haven't been able to crack Best New Music or whatever it is yet, but maybe we're just not good enough. All i know is this record fucking rules hard.
Well, Brisbane's got Everett True now, hence it's culturally superior.
Disclaimer: I don't really give a shit where people are from, as long as they make decent sounds. If anything, I'm amused by this weird parochialism.
I like the song, but am finding it hard to get past the terrible drumming.
Great band and album.
To these ears they sound very influenced by New Zealand band The 3Ds...which is a-OK with me.
yeah, i guess i find pavement such a boring and underwhelming band that the idea of a sub-pavement effort kind of makes me want to hurl with indifference. but i probably should take it to the pavement thread, or indeed keep it to myself and keep it out of this nice band's thread.
actually i listened to the song and quite liked it, lyrics probably a bit ''zany'' for me but the brass-augmented outro is killer. was there a bit of accent uncertainty (aus/US)? i suppose that's not uncommon.
Sub-pavement rock is basically killing rock music.
So you were never a fan of Gaslight Radio, shaun?
Not really familiar with much of their stuff though I did interview one of the members for street press about four years ago.
Should listen to Toadracer.. Brisbane's better Pavement.
The first Gaslight Radio EP pretty much beat Pavement at their own game. A band that was better than their influences? That could only happen in QLD.
FrankieTeardrop said 2 hours ago:
Nova is latin for 'new'
Scotia : Scot
Nova Scotia ≈ Scott's new band!
i like gaslight live, haven't listened to much of their recorded work although i do have an early EP somewhere (torching towns?) - certainly live in the last few years i got anything but a pavement vibe, they seemed a lot more intent and propulsive
who took the pigs photo?
That song is derivative as fuck. AND STILL FUCKING AMAZING.
Great song.
having seen this band for years i always wondered how their music would be perceived if they put a record out. live they are a different beast to this - they blow people away. ridiculously loud and fascinating. but it isn't really new music and maybe strange in some ways that it would be released on lofly. must say though i am walking around with the songs in my head just from a couple of soundcloud etc listens. good songs.
I don't remember Gaslight sounding anything like Pavement.
I remember everyone going on about how The Red Sun Band sounded too much like Pavement... I couldn't hear Pavement in them either. ;-{ )
Nova Scotia sound ace.
it's from Japan, taken from a tourist workers farm photo book I think, cover looks great irl, 300 pressed, get in!
Right you are. The handwritten tracklist I was quoting from had it wrong. Cheers
Frankie, I think its more of a complaint against Triple J's apparent bias.
I disagree. I think we're good enough. Melbourne on the other hand......:D :D :D
The end of this song is killer!
great band!!!
theses guys are on tour at the moment, Newcastle tonight, Sydney tommorow and Melbourne on Saturday.
Playing at Black Wire tonight! Gonna pick me up an LP.