Local Reviews: Nolens Volens — I’m Sad Your Living

Nolens Volens
I’m Sad Your Living
Nolens Volens = Cloud Cult + The Child Who Was a Keyhole

(Grammar mistake intended in the album title?) Tribal atmospheric drumming melts into NYC Ghosts and Flowers Sonic Youth wavering guitar-picking, bright as a daisy growing between a crack in a disgusting city street in the opening track, “Jon Bytheway is Actually Satan” — upon first listen, you know you’ve encountered one of them bands that, like, aren’t afraid to try out new things and stuff. (Jon Bytheway — isn’t he that goofy youth fireside/EFY speaker? I think yes). Hard industrial beats dominate “Bleepo” laid underneath ordinary-sounding voice samples. Crunchy drum sample beats make out with bells and piano melody lines with acoustic guitar 7th-chord sounds filling in the background on “Election Day” (my favorite track). I also like “Deaf Ears.” It’s so nice and sad. Nolens Volens have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. That’s a power position if I ever hearda one.