Experimental Canadian group Nick Buzz has maintained a cult following through its 20 years together with its dark, unsettling artistic direction. They’ve only released three albums, but it’s certainly a quality over quantity deal with this band.
The band’s avant-garde brand of experimental cabaret music continues on its newest record, A Quiet Evening at Home, released August 20 by Six Shooter Records.
A Quiet Evening at Home features a blend of electronic and acoustic arrangement that feels very specific and purposeful. The first track, for example, at times sounds like a Nine Inch Nails B-side with cacophonous electronic percussion and curt vocals.
But as the album continues, Nick Buzz immerses you with acoustic ballads that show off their more melodic side, especially apparent in the song “If You Go Away.”
Ambient clouds of electronically altered sound that display the members’ fondness of experimental music are present within the title track “A Quiet Evening
at Home.”
A Quiet Evening At Home is a cohesive album that succeeds in its use of both dissonance and playfulness, portrayed perfectly by lead vocalist Martin Tielli.
This is the band’s first album in 10 years and runs an ambitious 55 minutes long, containing eight tracks, but never falling short in its ability to surprise and impress.
Nick Buzz utilizes crisp production, tasteful mixing, and excellently programmed synths to fully realize their complex sound on this record.
The group’s performances on this album are perfect.
A Quiet Evening At Home is a very focused album that captures the essence of Nick Buzz. For fans of experimental freak folk or abstract cabaret ballads, this album is a must. For those who don’t know what either of those are, this album might not be a bad one to start off with. For everyone else, it’s simply worth a listen.
Cam Fraser
Contributor
