Nial Conway and Conor Gaffney have been operating virtually under the radar for almost four years. Their use of stringed instruments and varied percussion to create laid back electronica has garnered them comparisons to the UK’s Kieran Hebden, AKA Four Tet. Their live performances have generated some buzz and lead to a considerable and dedicated fan base both here and across Europe. Still, they’ve much more ahead of them. Paraphrase Accolade, their debut album, is both their ticket to bigger things, and the evidence that they merit it. The album contains fourteen beautifully crafted songs that flow together seamlessly, almost like a DJ mix, though that’s not to say they blend into indiscernibility. Melodies weave through beats effortlessly. The first track, “Goni”, opens with a shimmering, cascading scale that pulls you in instantaneously, before fading in with a choppy guitar lead intertwined with drum rolls and hypnotic background harmonies – a Nouveaunoise hallmark. The vocals, here and elsewhere on the record, are used sparingly but to great effect, at once subtly captivating and rewarding. The beauty of the album is in the arrangement of the songs. Track-lengths and tempos are perfectly varied, picking up steam but never losing it. The occasional one-minute ambient breather is duly followed by what in a perfect world would be known as floor filler. “Make Light” and “Ceiriní” are a mesmerising one-two combo, a dreamy dance number leading into a lush, darkly atmospheric sequence that Guinness is sure to snatch up for their next “People walking through torrential rain for a pint” ad campaign. “Psychasonic,” with its summery vibe and sampled flutes, remembers the pep-rally riffs of The Go! Team. Paraphrase Accolade comes as a welcome addition to the fledging Irish electronic music scene. Neither overproduced nor trying too hard, it holds a uniquely relaxed and wholly uncontaminated sound. For those who have grown weary at the synth heavy, vocally driven electronica acts, this album is the perfect antidote. It is a triumph, and the ideal accompaniment to the Irish summer: glum or uplifting in all the right places. It’s hard to remember the last time the bar was raised for Irish electronic music, if it ever has, but Nouveaunoise’s contribution to the cause won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Related: Nouveaunoise to launch album, reward invitees with cheap booze |
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