Nocturnal Animals ‘Paint A Picture’
Nocturnal Animals are finally here with their highly anticipated debut EP Paint A Picture. What did they paint exactly? Well, one thing we could say for sure is the picture of an exceptional rock band with so much potential. Paint A Picture is ambitious and expressive as the title suggests. The EP intertwines mood and expression, energy and power in droning distortion and moody vocals, sewing illusive psychedelic, mood-filled post punk, wrenching vulnerability and haunting dream pop sensibility into a six-song epic.
Recurring melodies in the humming noise, in the torn and weary screams, in the low and alluring chants, bearing a haunting imagery throughout the record. The lows are lurking and tempting. The highs are deformed and torn. At times, a flower-power washed-out surreality walks past the door and leaves a gaze that stars into your soul. There are so many great moments in Paint A Picture that remind you of the best and the worst of rock n roll, and Nocturnal Animals certainly stretched themselves enough to reach the unlikely places.
The record opens in the slow-burn buzz of a defining rock charm. “All My Care” sees Nocturnal Animals turning their stadium-filling volume all the way up. Minimalistic, yet the sinister riff and deeply burning vocal leaves a mark in your heart like the devil approaching. Yet it isn’t just here to haunt you. It’s here to claim you. The power chords can’t help sneaking in a twang, the drone-like distortion shift-shapes into a reverberant surf soundscape. As the vocal climbs up in register, he shows you a side of himself that’s young and rebellious. With such moodiness and almost psycho unpredictability, they remind you a little bit of A Clockwork Orange.
“King of Dolphins” drops the first hint of illusion, painting a dream-like, ethereal soundscape. Unmistakable drum and in-your-face lyrics with an even darker undertone. “A Simple Fuck You” is self explanatory. The track speaks your darkest desires, sometimes, just the ill wishes for someone who crossed you on the bad sad. It’s interesting that even though the lyrics are tied up with punk aesthetic, the soundscape explores a broader, picturesque impression, driving it further into a spiritual appeal. It eventually escalates into something completely mad.
“Tyler’s Song” shakes things up completely. From a chaotic, explosive, almost plastic vision, the track drops into a melancholy dream pop sensibility. The edge of rock n roll meets indie pop, splashing the unmistakable sexual energy all over in your ears. A hint of Sex Pistols and The Police in the sound, yet coiled in modern appeal. It hits differently, loud and full of contrast, the mentality of spiralling down, losing control in adrenaline-charged allure.
“Passive Tone” stirs in black and white, tackling the toxicity of passive tones, channeling something dark and ugly in a complete melt down. It’s a visually powerful track, and hard-hitting. The collective energy of spinning out of control reminds you much of Nirvana’s live performance. “Picturesque” then concludes the EP with a melodic lonesomeness. A bit of hip-hop wrapped up in the beginning, but the punchy vocal draws you back into something more confrontational and raw. The storming single then has a bit of Inhaler in its with vocal and guitar intertwined drastically in a gut-wrenching storm.
