Art Rock Show – Nova Cascade – Box Man (Week 36)

De Britse combo Nova Cascade werd eind 2010 opgericht als een ambient/progressieve rockproject door Dave Hilborne (synthesizers, zang), Dave Fick (bas), Charlie Bramald (fluit), Alessio Projetti (gitaar) en Heather Lesile (viool). Hun eerste album “Above All Else” werd uitgebracht in september 2018. Box Man is helaas de laatste plaat voor deze groep.

The Progressive Aspect (TPA): “The stunning opening track, The Choice, which clocks in at an epic 28 minutes, explores the consequences of one man’s decision to change his life by following an enigmatic signal and embarking on a mysterious quest. Musically its form consists of contrasting episodes, with little thematic continuity or development, but it is unified by an overarching narrative; in Dave’s words, “the moral of the tale is that we are all looking for something in one form or another, but with that comes many different consequences.” The remote location of the opening is suggested by mysterious, brooding synths and a yearningly emotive violin melody. Imaginative and unexpected harmonic shifts evoke a perilous journey through strange, mythical landscapes. The episodes that follow are sequenced to contrast lush and reflective symphonic soundscapes with more upbeat, quirky and even jazzy sections, conjuring up a fantastical series of images and moods in the mind of the listener and suggesting the fragmentary vividness of dreams.

The six shorter tracks that follow continue to explore the concept of chance and choices. Smoking Gun depicts a man haunted by bitter memories of ‘Chances gone to ground’, ‘Unclaimed & drowned’. Keyboards introduce a carillon of pealing bells which underpins most of the track. Dave’s half-whispered vocals perfectly convey the protagonist’s tortured state of mind, torn between a desire for acceptance and closure and a determination never to relinquish his anger. His final murmur of ‘Pray I never forget’ seems to achieve some form of resolution, with a final glittering peal of bells floating over a reverberant wash of synths that glows with the valedictory warmth of a sunset. (…)

Box Man is a triumphant example of the ‘show, don’t tell’ school of music, conveying its message through evocative hints and suggestions and inviting the listener to fill in the gaps. Dave’s distinctive vocal delivery leaves the listener in no doubt of the depth of feeling he brings to the music. The instrumental performances are superb; without recourse to flashy solos or scene-stealing demonstrations of technique, each player makes a sensitive, eloquent and unique contribution to the overall effect. As well as delivering outstandingly beautiful music that touches the heart and lifts the spirits, the album offers serious food for thought, posing challenging questions about social justice and the degree of control we have over our lives. Listening to a Nova Cascade album is always a moving and rewarding experience, and with its breadth of style, scope and mood this final one just might be the band’s best.”

Naast Nova Cascade (Box Man), Nine Skies (The Lightmaker), Karmamoi (Room 101), Drifting Sun (Twilight), Damanek (Making Shore) & Lifesigns (Lifesigns).”

• Thursday/Donderdag 12.00 – 24.00
• Friday/Vrijdag 12.00 – 24.00
• Saturday/Zaterdag 12.00 – 24.00