Album of the Week: Nocturne by Wild Nothing

It was around the summer of 2019 when I first heard Nocturne by Wild Nothing (initially released in 2012), and since then it has brought me back to that time everytime I listen. Nocturne is one of those albums that is able to explore several different styles of song writing, a variety of different sound design textures, and many other aspects of wiring music, all without losing any consistency. Similar to many other great albums like it, it has a very organized and conceptual design to it. Each song accomplishes the perfect amount of authenticity, while also fitting in to the dream/indie pop sound. But what makes Nocturne so unique is that it is all written by one person, Jack Tatum. When I initially learned this I was quite surprised, but the more I’ve listened, the more it makes sense. It almost feels like you’re listening to a phase of someone else’s life, put into audio form. The first song “Shadow” opens up the album with a heavily rhythm section based song, a common theme in the album, but also features catchy guitar leads and calm vocals. The production is very clean and the dry acoustic guitars cut through the mix so nicely. The title track “Nocturne” follows these same elements, but it is a lot more groovier. My favorite song on the album, “Through the Grass”, sounds a lot like shoegaze band Slowdive but with an indie pop/rock twist. The whole song is covered in reverb, the percussion and drums sounds give an 80s aesthetic, and the guitars sounds like a Cure song, for me that’s what did it. Another thing that made this song stand out is the strange 3/4 groove that doesn’t really feel like 3/4. “Only Heather” and “Disappear Always” are both uplifting faster paced songs that are always a great vibe. “Paradise” is another 80s sounding song that is covered in reverb, but it is also probably the most grooviest as well. I only say probably because the bass and vocals on “Counting Days” drives the song like no other and might make it groovier than “Paradise”. The album closes with “Rheya”, which is another great song. Tatum shows off his writing skills with great drum patterns, harmonic guitar leads, groovey bass lines, and the catchiest vocal and lyrics I’ve heard in a while. The overall production is very much inspired by shoegaze. It features crisp and full drum sounds, psychedelic synths, amazing guitar tones, warm bass tones, and much more. Overall, this album is flawless in my opinion because it captures the perfect variation within a consistent sound, creating a unique juxtaposition that is always interesting to listen to.