Wild Nothing
Nocturne
(Captured Tracks)

Wild Nothing is really an appropriate name for this act. The music is inventive and charming, but at times it does all blend together. That’s just a risk you take with shoegaze, and Nocturne has the charm of Kevin Shields’ voice with none of My Bloody Valentine’s heavy feedback. For those who like their music a bit light and spacy, Nocturne really hits the spot.

“Shadow” is a catchy way to open the album, with frontman Jack Tatum’s delicate vocals augmented by strings. “Midnight Song” combines layered beats with plenty of New Wave guitar distortion. “Nocturne” continues that 80’s sound in the best sort of way, and “Paradise” feels like it was ripped straight from the pages of the New Order handbook.

If there’s one shortcoming with Nocturne, it’s that a bit too much time is spent nurturing the same quiet, vintage sound. All of the songs are enjoyable on their own, but after half an hour of the same vibe, I found myself having to check when one song ended and the next began. Wild Nothing could stand to introduce a bit more variety, but taken in doses, Nocturne has some gorgeous offerings.