Nada Surf - 'Let Go' (Heavenly)
4/5
By: Toby L
A group in their time that has scored a student-friendly, radio-adorned hit single back in the latter stages of the mid-90s - its title was 'Popular', marking the arrival of an emo-indie-rock pulveriser of a tune - Nada Surf are back with their third album, 'Let Go', and are clearly looking to bury their macho, preppie-boy image within the mixed-up past behind them.
For getting to 2002 in one piece hasn't been an easy chore for the NYC trio. Major-label screw-ups, bad timing, the brutality of the record-industry, etc. have all led in some measure or other to ensuring that this act's career has spiralled into unexpected doorways not working to anything's advantage. Apart from maybe this record. After all, 'Let Go' is the sound of Nada Surf accepting their experiences and moving on triumphantly; there's a new label in it for 'em - the highly fruitful Heavenly, as part of EMI - and a progression and maturity in the sound that similar contemporaries will have struggled to garner after such a troubled amount of time making music in the public-eye.
Interspersing its matter within two notable vantage-points - these being, if you're going to be cold about it, simply slow and fast - proceedings open blissfully within the acoustic-led slumber of 'Blizzard of 77', its downbeat pace exchanged for that of uplifting chipper-pop within upcoming single, 'The Way You Wear Your Head', one of the few moments throughout that doesn't succumb to Travis-esque minimalist introspection. Speaking of which...
This is the record's main strength: its ability to manifest traditional song-writing into the beauteous landscape of the lullaby. Such actions prompt the French-sung 'La Pour Ca' and timeless likes of 'Blonde On Blonde' and 'Inside Of Love' to enthral and compel, the stark simplicity and sincerity more than outweighing the clarity of the recording. And, honestly, to absorb such material and hark it back to the Nada Surf of the past makes for a shocking reference-point.
Yet, as uttered previously, this is 'Let Go' all over - a glance back to the mists of time and a defiant leap forward to pastures new. More than ever deserving of the justice that has been misguided prior to now, Nada Surf's future will hopefully be more secure from these days forth.
Artists in this article: Nada Surf
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