Weekly Release Spotlight: Nurses
Posted on 9/18/2011
Nurses
Dracula
Dead Oceans
Dracula
Dead Oceans
One of the most powerful aspects of music is its ability to create bonds strong enough from all corners of the world. For the nomadic best friends that make up the backbone of Nurses, recording Dracula was enough to settle down, at least temporarily, in a small town outside of Portland. As much as we loved 2009's Apple's Acre for it's incredible energy that was transferable even through a Mac microphone and extremely primitive recording equipment, Dracula allows the listener to be swallowed by the slinky depths of sonically blissful pop songs that will surely redefine our pop standards.
The crucial difference between this album and any other pop album you might want to compare it to are the pure sonics and dynamics of each song structure. While some call it avant-pop, this is one of the trends that I hope really catches on when writing an album. The trio all performed every instrument on the album, and would switch off during and between songs, allowing the album to organically grow into a fully realized concept. "Through The Window" serves as one of the more simplistic and beautiful songs on the album, as singer Aaron Chapman creates new levels of expression as he truly uses his voice as an instrument. His vocal abilities far outway the tonal qualities that might unnerve some listeners, adding dynamics vocals that rest comfortably within the complex rhythms that seem to multiply as the album progresses. "Wouldn't Tell" is probably one of the most charming songs on the album, as Chapman softly delivers the words "If you want to leave/if you want to leave/if you want to go I wouldn't tell anyone you know" as he confides in you that the transient lifestyle still suits them as their first love, but as the song grows and the ambience gives way to feedback, there is a level of comfortability that emulates the complex feeling of letting someone leave when you'd rather them stay simply because it's for the best.
Overall this album says a lot about the depths of friendship and the nature of creating and taming relationships over distances both real and social. Other standout tracks include the single "Trying To Reach You" and "Fever Dream." On "Dancing Grass," they created one of the busiest songs on the album as the ambient tones crunch and thrash violently as Chapman confidently embraces the "emptiness" that will help them "stand trial." After recording the album in an attic secluded from outside input, the trio brought the unmastered tracks to Scott Colburn's Gravelvoice Studios in Seattle, who worked on Arcade Fire and Animal Collective albums. The album closes with the friendship anthem "Eternal Thrills" that starts off with slightly, and just slightly dischordant piano that grows with the tribal drums and percussion overlaying the synth. "I don't ever want you to change your soul," Chapman confesses. We hope the same for you, Nurses.
Stream: "Trying To Reach You"