advertisement
FYI

Nap Eyes: Mystery Calling

The East Coast cult faves deliver another winner via shimmering guitars and languid vocals.

Nap Eyes: Mystery Calling

By Kerry Doole

Nap Eyes - Mystery Calling (Royal Mountain Records). These East Coast rockers release a new album, Snapshot of a Beginner, on March 27th via Royal Mountain Records/Jagjaguwar, preceded by the third advance single/video, Mystery Calling.


Frontman Nigel Chapman elaborates on the track in a label press release: “This is another improvised-origin song. On one level it’s basically a description of my homebody ways, and it’s also about the way our mundane routines can seem to pull us away from what I’m referring to as ‘Mystery’ in the song– that is, away from the discovery and creation that seem to be more valuable and important activities in themselves, despite being deemed superficially ‘non-practical.’

advertisement

"Now, this irritation and sense of being drawn away from what’s important is probably mostly illusory. This is because the cosmic mystery is probably accessible even in the midst of the most boring and stressful busywork. At the same time, as any good procrastinator should know, there is quite a lot of good that comes from letting the mind ignore apparently pressing worldly activities in order to let it roam, explore, discover and create.”

The dazzling video, directed by Antoine Lahaie, was inspired by films like Blade Runner and Under The Skin. “We don't know whether they've been there before, if they're stuck there and passing time, if they have a purpose or they're just chilling,” says Lahaie. “It was also important for me to keep it abstract and unresolved. Even though I like to be tongue in cheek I didn't want to fall into something comedic.”

The cut features shimmering psych meets twang guitars, while Chapman’s languid drawling vocals are always appealing. Plus it’s a treat to hear the word procrastinate in a song. You won't hear Nap Eyes' oft-quirky sound on commercial radio, but it has caught the ear of the critics and earned them a growing international audience as they attain cult hero status.

advertisement

Snapshot of a Beginner has been termed the band's most concentrated and hi-fi effort to date. To record, Nap Eyes went to The National’s nuevo-legendary upstate NY Long Pond Studio, working with producers Jonathan Low (Big Red Machine, The National) and James Elkington (Steve Gunn, Joan Shelley).

Following their current North American dates in support of Destroyer, Nap Eyes will tour across Europe and North America. Dates here.

Links

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

PR: Hive Mind

advertisement
Billy Talent
Dustin Rabin
Billy Talent
Concerts

Billy Talent, City and Colour to Play Matthew Perry House and Make Music Matter's Mental Health Benefit Concert in Toronto

Live Loud LIVE will also bring Serena Ryder, Amy Millan, members of Sum 41 & Broken Social Scene and many more to The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on November 14.

A new initiative is using music and entertainment to shine a light on the importance of mental health.

Matthew Perry House and Make Music Matter have joined forces for Live Loud, a new collaboration aimed at providing addiction and mental health support in the entertainment industry.

keep readingShow less
advertisement