http://thenocturnesmusic.com/rss en-us info@thenocturnesmusic.com Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:45:01 -0600 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:01:01 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 01.17.09
LA duo The Nocturnes are setting the underground free with their emotive, sweetly haunting tunes. Music writer Jemayel Khawaja takes a walk on the dark side.
LOS ANGELES. Locally-based duo the Nocturnes have been honing their sound in the local underground for a while now. Their music emotes through varied voices - it's dark, yeah, baroque even, technical, melodic, and evocative. Guitarist/vocalist Emma Rundle shifts between sweet and haunting (usually haunting) over nimble guitar lines. Drummer Daniel Yasmin pushes the songs through well masked odd-meter sections that nestle in songs of varying structure. Often, the absorbing matter of their work renders the more technically adventurous aspects of their music more hidden.
The band has recently released a new album, entitled A Year of Spring. The duo spent a significant amount of time writing and recording the album, and Rundle even designed the artwork for the CD. At times, the only relevant comparison regarding the Nocturnes that stuck in my head was the almost paradoxical posing, "Joanna Newsom meets Tool."
Much of the album is characterized by wintry emotions over solid songwriting, often cresting in downright raucous movements. Rundle's lyrics weave images that echo the sentiments set forth by the music; tense and distant, but entirely engaging. My favorite track on the album is the second, "Nothing At All". Despite the lyrical content alluding to murder, the tone of the song is nearly breezy compared to other moments of the album. The percussion pushes a driving beat, supporting catchy vocals over a tasteful 7-4 rhythm. Other standouts include the opening track "I Love The Lighthouse Keeper" and "Curran, Curran," a moody number that careens through opposing segments that maintain the original character. A tastefully included organ, highlighted in a solo on "Trojan" adds distinct tones, along with the occasional baritone guitar.
Live, they are in their element. Yasmin uses a bevy of subtle techniques to affect his sound on stage. Emma is an alluring lead, lithely picking intricate guitar parts while evoking the atmosphere in the music. The lasting aspect of their music is that very few bands are able to emote darkly, but to do it without being reliant on a textural heaviness or a nimble presentation.
THE DETAILS: The Nocturnes
A Year of Spring
The album was recorded and released independently www.thenocturnesmusic.com
Story by Jemayel Khawaja.

Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:23:07 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 06.10.09
THE NOCTURNES: A YEAR OF SPRING
June 7th, 2009 · No Comments



Stream: The Nocturnes “I Love The Lighthouse Keeper”



(from A Year Of Spring out now)

The Nocturnes are quick to demolish ideas of Chopin and wistful pianos—by the end of the first song “I Love the Lighthouse Keeper,” 1970s prog rock is clearly a better fit than the 19th century. Non-standard time signatures and abrupt shifts and some unexpected use of synthesizers are all constants on this album, but their aesthetic extends beyond that genre, too. For a duo consisting of Emma Ruth Rundle and Daniel Yasmin, they pack a lot of different sounds into A Year of Spring. Think Sonic Youth, Zeppelin, and maybe even a dirtier, less classical-minded My Brightest Diamond, and you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Rundle’s voice has a tendency to veer towards Alanis Morrisette-like caterwauling on a couple songs, but her haunting lyrics and intensity make it easy to forgive when it happens. Yasmin’s drum work is consistently upfront in the mix, and just as consistently satisfying. The two don’t have a problem slipping from raucousness into restraint and back again, an endearing quality that makes songs like “Sink My Ship” so listenable. Aside from the music, Rundle handled the artwork for the album, and her care and time show through. Colored sketches accompany the lyrics, and add depth to the songs themselves.

—Greg Garabedian


Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:21:51 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 07.27.09
Earlier this year we had the pleasure of working with the very talented Nick Corvinus on a music video of Brush Fire. We will be putting it up on the website this week.
One thing you should know is that the video features Nick running wild in a red long undies.]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:49:28 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 07.28.09
Label: self-released
These SoCal alt-rock darlings produce some strange tunes. The duo definitely likes Sonic Youth. Singer Emma Rundle owes her vocal approach to Johnette Napolitano or maybe Bjork on anti-depressants. But their awkward soundscapes seem a bit too strange for the radio. Maybe in the future. [MySpace]
My verdict: PASS
-Jefferson is a DJ on the Evening Eclectic program at 90.7 KFSR, the college radio station in Fresno, Calif

Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:49:28 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 08.31.09
dig it

Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:49:25 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 01.28.10
more to come.]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:23:17 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 04.15.10
An evening of drone and texture. Visit http://khalija.com/ for more info.

$5 donation at the door.

DECAY FEST VI, with The Nocturnes, Casey Anderson, Giant Gong and Void
Time:9:00PM Saturday, June 5th
Location:Beyond Baroque

Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:06:30 -0500 http://thenocturnesmusic.com 07.04.10
I am very pleased to say that we are currently working on a new record in the studio with Marty Rifkin.

The new record features the combined efforts of Julian Rifkin, Paris Patt and myself.


Launch Related Site]]> info@thenocturnesmusic.com Sun, 4 Jul 2010 12:58:47 -0500