‘Nova Cascade’ plays ambient art and prog rock. Electronic sounds play an important role, rhythm is secondary. The start of ‘Sleeping Dogs’ is beautiful. Vocals and music form an ultimate balance. Especially the details of the violin are intriguing. The title track (with flute playing) is exceptionally constructed, but the “percussion” lacks warmth. Real drums are present in three tracks, bass in all of them. The guitar playing is very varied. Sometimes mixed and/or interspersed with classical elements. ‘Weightless’ is beautifully “fragile” sung. The emotion conveyed by the violins in ‘Return To Haven’ is partly reduced by ambient aspects. Not everywhere is the ratio between electronic sounds and instruments balanced. The largely instrumental songs are generally quiet. At times, there are many layers in the music, everything spread well over the headphones. Partly because of the details and twists, ‘The Navigator’ is an exceptional album.
(8/10) (Own Management)
Social media:
Facebook: Nova Cascade.
Bandcamp: Nova Cascade.
Tracklist:
01 – Sleeping Dogs 03:29
02 – Safe Haven 05:58
03 – A Walk Along The Canal 03:48
04 – The Navigator 10:21
05 – The Night Crossing 02:23
06 – The Fever Dream 05:44
07 -Any Minute Now 03:09
08 – The Noble Lion 03:41
09 – Submerged 02:33
10 – Weightless 03:01
11 – Return To Haven 04:54
12 – Somewhere Between Here & Now 02:36
13 – Au Revoir 01:54
Line up:
Dave Hilborne- vocals, keys, programming (tracks 1-12)
Dave Fick – bass (tracks 1-12)
Colin Powell – electric guitars, additional keys, orchestrations (tracks 1-12
Eric Bouillette *- electric and acoustic guitars, violin (tracks 1, 4, 6, 9, 13)
Charlie Bramald – flute (tracks 2,4,5,6)
Lorenzo Polliandri- drums (tracks 5,7,9)
Nini Chikviladze – violin (tracks 3,11)
*During the recording of the album ‘The Navigator’, Eric Bouillette died,’ therefore the proceeds will go to ‘Pancreatic Cancer UK
‘Nova Cascade – ‘The Navigator
‘Nova Cascade’ speelt ambient-art- en prog rock. Elektronische klanken spelen een belangrijke rol, het ritme is ondergeschikt. De start van ‘Sleeping Dogs’ is prachtig. Zang en muziek vormen een ultieme balans. Vooral de details van de viool zijn intrigerend. De titeltrack (met fluitspel) is bijzonder opgebouwd, maar de “percussie” mist warmte. Echte drums zijn in drie tracks aanwezig, de bas in alle tracks. Het gitaarspel is zeer gevarieerd. Soms vermengd en/of afgewisseld met klassieke elementen. ‘Weightless’ is mooi “breekbaar” gezongen. De emotie die de violen overbrengen in ‘Return To Haven’, wordt deels gereduceerd door ambient aspecten. Niet overal is de verdeling tussen elektronische klanken en instrumenten in balans. De grotendeels instrumentale nummers zijn over het algemeen rustig. Met vlagen zijn er veel laagjes in de muziek, alles is goed verdeeld over de koptelefoon. Mede door de details en wendingen is ‘The Navigator’ een bijzonder album.
(8/10) (Eigen Beheer)
*Tijdens de opnames van het album ‘The Navigator’ overleed Eric Bouillette,’ daarom gaan de opbrengsten naar ‘Pancreatic Cancer UK