According to frontman Ryan Guldemond the goal when creating Canadian indie rockers Mother Mother`s tenth studio album `Nostalgia` was to embody a childlike creativity which he believes often becomes elusive later in life, stating each creative choice was evaluated by its emotional impact.
We are introduced to the album via `Love to Death` a musically upbeat melodic rock pop offering that hints at obsession and taking it to the extreme when it overtakes your life. Molly and Ryan`s vocals really trade off each other on this opening salvo. The track bleeds into `Make Believe` which has a stop start texture and promotes the narrator’s faith, trust, creed, doctrine, or philosophy they live by. Once again the siblings trade vocals that are dealt rapidly with Ryan`s more formal and Molly`s almost childlike and tender.
`Station Wagon` is a slow burn and ballad like and hints at sexual encounters in a vehicle with extendable seats!! and ends with an off kilter music box sound. The pulsating `ON AND ON (Song for Jasmin)` is really what it says in the title a rhythmic repetitive musing about somebody who appears quite tedious.
`Better of Me` has a kind of anthemic texture and seems a cathartic meditation. A quick search revealed that `Namaste` Namaste` is sometimes called namaskār and namaskāram, a customary Hindu manner of respectfully greeting and honouring a person or group, used at any time of day. The track itself is a stripped back acoustic tender melodic duet.
`FINGER` touches on the sexual practice of anal fingering and the ambiguous nature of sex that what a male is lauded, acclaimed, and praised for, a female is denounced condemned and criticised for. It has a kind of hip-hop deep electronic musical accompaniment. A strummed guitar and deep percussive beat lead us through `Me & You` which may be about a couple of lovers.
`little Mistake` is a gentle reflection on miscalculation and errors in judgment and is full of guilt and regret. The word `Mano a Mano` comes from Spanish, in which it has the literal meaning of “hand to hand” or in direct competition or conflict especially between two people.” The number is full of threat and menace and sounds like it refers to fighting for what you believe in.
Title track `Nostalgia` is brimming in reminiscence and recollection and wishing to return to times gone by whereas the final offering of `To Regret` seeps with remorse and guilt. A stark submission with piano keys and Molly`s vocals initially before Ryan joins in to harmonise. An almost gospel like piece to close out on.
`Nostalgia` is a strange but enticing listen and has such a variety of styles such as high energy electronic offerings, ballads, folk like textures and more anthemic fist pumpers. The lyrical content can be a little uncomfortable at times as it veers towards often hinted at but unspoken subject matters.
A release that will offer more, each time you return to listen.
Rating 8/10
