Now, Now Return After 7-Year Hiatus
Minnesota band Now, Now have returned from musical hibernation with a 4-song EP, titled 01. Their last release dates back to 2018 with the album Saved, which was widely renowned especially amongst the “Midwestern emo” genre listeners. The duo, KC Dalager & Brad Hale, have purposefully waited to release any work since then so they could experiment with new gear, venture side projects & fully ruminate without any sense of urgency or deadlines.
“I think these songs are really a great example of the culmination of everything we’ve learned over the 23 years of making music together,” said Hale.
This surprise-EP was painted with somber yet delicate brush strokes; Dalager’s tender vocals featured in each track ensures the listener a safe journey despite the weight of depression & heartbreak mentioned throughout. The first track, “Talk To God” follows the narrative of quiet contemplation— seeking a higher power as a method for some existential guidance. “I always think of the worst thing that could happen / I never learned to give myself compassion / Now every word is coming back to get me / Echoing across the silence.”
Those fuzzy, synthesized melodies that fans love in Saved, are revisited & rejuvenated in this release. The overall signature Now, Now sound manages to be maintained while introducing refreshing musical factors. Eerie keyboard chords command the melody throughout “Isn’t It Funny,” bringing forth an 80’s element to its soundscape. Following along the same theme— only a little groovier— is track 3: “About You.” This one incorporates a deep, distorted bass line that perfectly complements the tormenting lyrics of moving on from heartbreak as the chorus repeats the plea, “I don't wanna write another song about you.”
The closing track, “Speck” takes us on a near 5-minute voyage through a steady, ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s solo work but with a contemporary flair. The melancholic keyboard plunks wonderfully encapsulate the sullen introspection of feeling so deeply— “When it's early in the morning / The silence is a warning / A reflection tearing / I'm on fire.” It turns out that silence & solitude was in fact an integral part of the Now, Now’s creative process. During this gestation period, bore a beautiful tracklist to ease listeners into the new era of Now, Now. You can listen to 01 in full here.
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