UPDATE: The debut album from Nation of Language is out now. You can find it on Bandcamp and Spotify.
PREVIOUS: I love Depeche Mode (obviously) and The National (that dude’s voice sounds smooth as fuck), so when I read this comment on Youtube it really got my attention: “My god… It’s like Depeche Mode and The National had a baby. I love it.”
Thank you, Youtube stranger Brent Lee, for bringing Nation of Language to my attention. You’re not wrong. Their songs feature sprightly little synthlines reminiscent of early Depeche Mode, and lead singer Ian Devaney does indeed have a smooth-ass delivery like that of The National’s Matt Berninger.
I’m really into everything I’ve heard so far.
Nation of Language is a fairly new band from Brooklyn that trades in melancholic lyrics and indietronic vibes. They should appeal to fans of artists like Operators, Black Marble and Choir Boy. Their long-delayed debut album called Introduction, Presence is finally coming out May 22.
You can pre-order it on Bandcamp.
Listen to Nation of Language
Nation of Language has already released 7 of the 10 songs from the album, so at this point an album release seems futile. Still, it will be nice to listen to all the songs as part of a cohesive set.
The latest single is called “Friend Machine,” which Devaney says is about social media and “my own unhealthy relationship with technology.” I gotta admit “Friend Machine” is a pretty funny and accurate way to describe Facebook.
But it’s an earlier track, “Rush & Fever,” that inspired by the aforementioned comparisons to Depeche Mode and The National. It includes a music video. You can listen to both songs below.
