Nightmare Air – Fade Out

Nightmare Air

Time flies by in the wonderful world of the #realbirminghamlive and the appearance of the new album by Nightmare Air is testament to that.

Some Mancunian bloke once wrote: the passing of time and all of its crimes is making me sad again. Not that I’m particularly sad, in general or about the release of Fade Out. On the contrary. But looking back at our review of the last album by Nightmare Air, High In The Lasers, it was a shock to be reminded that the tunes that had been on my playlist constantly were released five years ago!

A lot has happened in the interim. Nightmare Air have done a lot of touring and the influences that they have encountered are starting to show in this album. Over the years they have shared the stage with an eclectic bunch ranging from The Wedding Present to The Cult and encountering The Buzzcocks, The Dandy Warhols, The Kills, Teenage Fanclub, Cat Power, The Black Lips, The Soft Moon, No Age and Ringo Deathstarr along the way.

The trio are hardly newcomers in their trade but it would be hard for that experience to go by with no effect. Neither can Dave Dupuis’s association with a certain Gary Numan pass by without something rubbing off. Just listen to the title track to judge!

In comparison with their debut the instrumentation on Fade Out is different. Keyboards have a large part to play on this album and the net effect is a lusher more commercial feel. That isn’t to say that the band have compromised their approach. These tunes will rock hard live and the trademark contrast between the two vocal styles maintains the distinctive feel that High In The Lasers brought.

The overall effect on tunes like Obvious, Sign Of The Times or Strange Things is like SVIIB on steroids. Way We Fall could be on one of Kevin Parker’s latter albums. But just when you get in line with the pop sensibility the guitars come swarming in to take over. One great thing about this album is that the pundits will find it tricky to pigeonhole it. Lazy “shoegaze” references will have to be consigned to the waste bin! Here’s the teaser to whet your appetite:

Fade Out is the same but different. The lead single Who’s Your Lover sets the tone and it builds from there. In this regard is the same as its predecessor. In terms of production it is a much cleaner sound but the basics of Nightmare Air are still there. Dave may have swapped his starship console of effects pedals for keyboards but I can see these tunes on my playlist for the next five years.

Fade Out is released today, 2nd March 2018

Nightmare Air are touring with Gary Numan throughout the UK

Nightmare Air tour dates

12/3/2018 — Portsmouth, England — Pyramids Centre w/ Gary Numan

13/3/2018 — Warwick, England w/ Gary Numan

14/3/2018 — Leicester, England — O2 Academy w/ Gary Numan

16/3/2018 — Edinburgh, Scotland — Assembly Roomsw / Gary Numan

17/3/2018 — Middlesbrough, England Empire w/ Gary Numan

19/3/2018 — Preston, England; Guild Hall w/ Gary Numan

20/3/2018 — Hull, England — City Hall w/ Gary Numan

21/3/2018 — Sheffield, England — The Foundry w/ Gary Numan

22/3/2018 — Isle Of Man — Villa Marina w/ Gary Numan

23/3/2018 — Liverpool, England — O2 Academy w/ Gary Numan

25/3/2018 — Northampton. Roadmender w/ Gary Numan

About Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *