Now, Now

Neighbors EP

Written by: DR on 05/01/2011 18:16:36

Now, I have Now, Now for you all. Formerly this band went under the name of Now, Now Every Children, but felt a change in name needed for their change in label - leaving Afternoon Records, a label through which they released two EPs and one full-length - for what is arguably the up-and-coming indie label, No Sleep Records. The shortening of their name is the result of their desire to "disconnect... from any childish image we had. It was a way of starting over", a brave move considering they had just supported Paramore across Europe and at the time were making a name for themselves, but they are a brave band, and so is their music.

The frontman of this group is in fact a woman by the name of Jess Abbott, and having already supported them, you'd be forgiven for quietly suspecting that Now, Now are one of many female-fronted pop/rock acts that the explosion of Hayley Williams + co cleared the path for - hell, I did - and I was wrong. The label 'pop' shouldn't be close to Now, Now, for they are very much an indie band. Immediate comparisons will be drawn to emo-revivalists Football, etc, at least in my mind, as the vocals share many of the same qualities: they're relaxed and lush, never over-reaching, but where Lindsay Minton sells it with her emotion, Abbott charms you with her innocence and sweetness.

The indie soundscapes behind her go hand-in-hand with her vocals. Energy is never really injected into anything, instead, they focus on a quiet ambience ala Shuteye Unison. The result is both pleasing to ear and oddly-infectious; it's odd because the lack of energy means there isn't a 'hook' to be found anywhere, but you'll keep coming back to tracks like "Neighbors" and "Giants" for reasons I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's because of how you'll become enamoured by the sincerety of the vocals, or their knack for measured instrumentation, or both.

I have not yet listened to their previous releases so I cannot say whether or not this is indeed a fresh-start for them, but maybe that's irrelevant with the changes they've made. "Neighbors" is for new-comers to appreciate what they can do, which is an assured yet alluring demonstration of heartfelt indie.

Download: Giants; Neighbors
For The Fans of: Football, etc; Shuteye Unison
Listen: Myspace

Release Date 07.12.2010
No Sleep Records

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