If there was one unifying pursuit of all consumers of music in the past two years, it was for profound catharsis. We dove deeper into the catalogs of favorite artists in search of it. We caught virtual concerts that stood in for visits to our favorite neighborhood venues for a sense of connection. The introduction of a new band with the It factor that makes you beam with emotion, however, did seem like a phenomenon on indefinite hold. Enter Brooklyn’s Nation of Language.
Preoccupations' drummer Mike Wallace once grimaced at the suggestion that the Calgary, Alberta band was part of a new guard in the post-punk/New Wave sound.
The second album in as many years from Brooklyn's powerful folk rock group Big Thief is that work of impact that propels a band from a warm reception to commanding the discussion.
The trajectory of Jon Hopkins, like his sound, has been ascendant. It has also been a course rich with the creative relationships and experiences that make one envious (Brian Eno, Coldplay) and admiring of the dedicated talent that attracted them.
The ethos of Son Lux has always been of allowance-absorption. Anything discovered or stumbled upon that perks the ear can be engaged if it enriches the dynamism of the work.