Arizona native Nico de Luz (aka Nico Osorio) seems to wear many hats. A graduate student in philosophy at Columbia University, he’s also an evolving artist who expresses himself through film, painting, writing and – of course – music.
Well, now it’s time for Nico’s debut EP – ‘(Don’t) Go Away Tonight’.
‘Run Away With Me’ – What a bright, open sound! Nico’s delicate vocal feels fragile but oozes with expression. The barrage of textures will, I think, take multiple listens to fully appreciate. Each bar brings new sounds, and the simple hook is like a pathway, leading you through the forest of details. When you start to think that everything has been revealed, in comes a slightly menacing, dissonant sound. I found it hard to identify – it’s either a horn section, or a guitar that’s been distorted to within an inch of its life! Anyway, the song eventually settles into a groove that I thought was reminiscent of prime Stone Roses. Marvellous!
‘(Don’t) Go Away Tonight’ – Heavy distortion opens the title track, and the beautifully intimate vocal is a nice contrast to those angry guitars. The shuffling, lo-fi groove gave me hints of Beck, too. It’s as raw as a fresh kill on the savanna, and has an edgy, homemade vibe that is very satisfying.
‘Little Secret’ – This time the sound is stripped right back – just a shaker and an acoustic guitar at first – plus a laid back, conversational vocal that melts into the track with another carefully woven melody.
“When two worlds come together it’s such a feeling
Life is like a bullet, it’s oh so fleeting, oh so fleeting”
‘Don’t Know Anymore’ – I liked the combination of Beatles-esque vocals and 90’s Brit-pop instrumentals in this one. Like eavesdropping on a secret phone call, Nico’s voice morphs once again, revealing yet another facet to his voice.
“The hours are slipping away
Your eyes are boxed in a cage
And you don’t know what to think anymore”
‘Get Up And Go’ – A reflective closing track, and the third, where the title is some sort of call to action. Is this significant? Perhaps it hints at a desire for escape? For control? You decide!
“Don’t waste all your time thinking about what’s wrong or right
Time will tell you no, but you’ve just got to get up and go”
‘(Don’t) Go Away Tonight’ is bursting with simple, honest songwriting and an effortlessly authentic style. Combining elements of shoegaze, dream-pop and psychedelia (among others!), the production preserves a real sense of performance and presence – I felt like I could feel the rooms, the spaces, and the performers standing around me.
Nico de Luz is an artistic polymath whose box of tricks will certainly make you want to stay.
Written by Grubby
