Nova One creates a mighty self with a thoughtfulness and longing that only engineers experienced with rebirth and self-discovery can lovingly construct from the ashes of previous incarnation. They are your best friend you call in the middle of the night when you need a voice that understands. They are the partner you deserve.
Believe Me is a lullaby that leads off the album with a floating free word association, just like when a soul is poured into a container. Then, Dangerous shouts forth with a blast of Modern English feel that melts into you. A perfect fuzz-box pop attention getter, Nova One’s creation seems to be at odds with itself but, with a gentle anthem of understanding that this is all a part of the process.
Roz Raskin’s strong but, impish vocals, energize a fragility in harmony, like riding a sine wave into a flame of desire and vulnerability. Almost, but not quite out of tune, with all the naivete of a high school prom, Raskin’s vocals have echoes of such singers as Margo Timmons and her Cowboy Junkies. I adore the buzzy guitar in the mixes. Adds the perfect juxtaposition to Raskin’s gorgeous sounds.
My favorite tracks are those where the vocals are the center of attention. March is the perfect example of this. A bass player in the back of a concrete practice room. A drum machine from the 70s plugged through a vintage amp with worn speakers, and the drummer just providing enough power to keep things drifting. Guitars set on reverb chorus shimmer with a soft hint of synths. Vocals sit in the middle of this swaying sonic hammock. A focus on either blue lazy cloud-filled skies or a midnight of stars. Your choice and cadence to March to.
Nova One makes me go all shoegazy crazy. I look for a partner to sway together like night swept crushes, as the dance hall catches on fire because our tears will keep us safe. Soft mixed drums and bass of the title track, create myself, you can imagine the band in both a garage and in a concert hall. Depth of the sound plays with the dynamics of each, with a nod or three to the teenage love affair of 60s hip huggers and glitter finished roller-skate boots. Springtime nostalgia storms result in your outfit getting soaked through, warm and wet. But, you are happy being caught in the rain. You hope that the soft day never ends and that your new creation is off to a good, new Life.
Nova One’s create myself from Community Records is wonderful way to start any day or close any night. Available now on Bandcamp. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.