Nation of Language is a synthpop & new/minimal wave band from Brooklyn, New York consisting of synthesizer player Aidan Noell, bassist Alex MacKay & frontman/guitarist/percussionist Ian Richard Devaney. Releasing their full-length debut during the COVID-19 pandemic in May of 2020 in the form of Introduction, Presence followed by A Way Forward & Strange Discipline, they would sign to Sub Pop Records earlier this spring & are making their official debut for the label with their 4th studio album.

“Can’t Face Another One” opens with an indie synthpop intro bleakly singing about Ian not wanting to take on another day that has only begun whereas “In Another Life” throws it back to the sounds of 2000s electronic music instrumentally feeling like love’s a waste of time. “Silhouette” moves forward by pleading for an outline on the wall to give itself up just before “Now That You’re Gone” takes a moment to remembers Ian’s late godfather, who succumbed to ALS the year prior.

Synthpop, new wave, dream pop & shoegaze all collide during the lead single “I’m Not Ready for the Change” taking up the halfway point to examine a group of old friends who’ve all gone their separate ways just before “Can You Reach Me?” sings about not knowing it was possibly for serendipity to frown upon him & going into complete retreat mode.

“Inept Apollo” combines synthpop & new wave together for an exploration of the complex relationship between creative work & emotional healing while the gorgeously pulsating “Under the Water” assures that Ian’s not turning into anything that he isn’t whilst paying homage to the 80s synthpop era.

The final single “In Your Head” nears Dance Called Memory’s conclusion by carrying over the aesthetics of the previous song tackling intrusive thoughts one may have in the process until the closer “Nights of Weight” sends off the LP singing about the human condition as we know & addressing the concerns most of society has with the technological advancements we’ve seen in AI this past year or 2.

Ditching the minimal wave elements of their previous work entirely, the Nation of Language’s inaugural opus under Sub Pop Records feels more spectral & spacious compared to the band’s earlier material. Their synthpop production pulls heavier from new wave in addition to indie pop, post-punk revival, art pop, shoegaze, indietronica, dream pop & alternative dance achieving their goal of expanding what their music can evoke whilst hoping to distract us from our depression when we’re feeling down on our luck.

Score: 4/5

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