RomantikPolitik (launch review)
nosnow/noalps Debut Album Launch
- review by Dean Muscat
Having set foot in the Beachaven club in Xemxija last Saturday night, anyone would have been forgiven for thinking they had slipped through some subspace highway and landed back in the 1980s. For one the club’s décor, with its tacky print carpet, glass dance floor, and gaudy colour gel lighting. Adding to the impression was the crowd; a babbling horde of low cut vests, 20/20 horn rimmed glasses and artsy blazers, who could have easily been the extras for a music video featuring The Smiths.
The alternative gathering was in honour of local band [NoSnow/NoAlps]’ debut album launch. Recorded with producer David Vella at Temple Studios, RomantikPolitik has been a good two years in the making and is the band’s first physical release since 2007’s well received Just Rock EP.
The punters were certainly given value for money, as NSNA invited not one, but two bands to open up for them. New girl-band on the block Stolen Creep continued to establish their own following with a confident set showcasing their mock-Manchunian accents and Joy Division-esque riffs. Red Electrick were on what seems to be never-failing blistering form, even performing a brand new riff fest in the name of Picture Perfect.
It was close to 1a.m. by the time NSNA finally took to the stage, uniformed in black t-shirts with blood-red paper hearts pinned to their chests. The crowd flooded the dance floor and the four-piece kicked off with guaranteed fan pleaser Headset. Ignition failed to immediately spark however, Nick Morales in particular visibly not the frantic frontman of usual.
He shoved microphone stands out of the way after the opener to adjust his set-up, letting the audience know what he thought of the claustrophobically small stage. Other vocalist and synth player Sarah Falzon did her best to keep the mood jovial, thanking the crowd for the great turn out and urging all to buy the album. With everything apparently good to go, the band reconvened with latest single Far Into the Night (Without You), forcing the crowd to bounce their collective indie socks off.
New songs Dorothy’s Machines and Cherry Tree kept energy levels turned up to eleven, Morales gradually relaxing through feeding off the ensuing buzz in front of him. “I’m feeling better now. I was feeling very bad before, with all the stress,” he quickly added as an explanation, a sly smile flickering on his face.
NSNA have surely been dealing with copious amounts of stress of late. If completing their debut album wasn’t pressure enough, the band have filmed and released a new music video, organised and plugged their album launch, dealing with changing venues and the logistics of three bands’ gear on one stage in the meantime.
The live setting infused a punkier edge to NSNA, their inaccuracies and imperfections making for a more volatile and electric vibe. Elizabeth, I’s infectious poppy melodies decorated with glittering guitars and soft synths, sounded impressive on the night. Space-meets-Western instrumental Laika’s Revenge - presumably named after the Soviet space dog who was the first animal to travel and die in orbit around Earth – made for raucous fun.
The late start did work slightly against the band. By the time their set drew to a close, a substantial number of the audience had dispersed, although those remaining kept the noise thriving regardless. It was NSNA’s meticulous DIY approach to each aspect of the launch – gig, promotion, video, merchandise – that made the night a true success, and their ambition to give their fans real value for money was nothing short of admirable.
RomantikPolitik may have taken a few years to arrive, but it is well worth the wait. It marks a definite progression, incorporating even more stylistic subtleties into NSNA’s core indie and Ska soundscape, and will surely be the soundtrack of the summer for the local alternative scene.