Nashville – In anticipation of their latest release, Albany, NY natives Northern Faces have embarked on their first ever U.S. tour and stopped here along the way this past Friday night at the High Watt. Though the tour is set to conclude in less than a month, the band’s debut full-length album will drop shortly thereafter in late April (via Equal Vision Records). As a treat, Northern Faces let us in on a few new cuts from the album, which will surely be filled with the group’s trademark resolute rhythm and smoky aesthetic.
The quartet currently seems to be occupying an exciting and critical place in their career—their sound is beginning to transform and grow, but they’ve already had a good thing going for a while now. Their debut EP was released two years ago with just six songs, and until now, that’s all fans have had to rely upon. However, those six songs pack one heck of a punch. There are a variety of different things going on here, especially in the guitar riffs—sometimes it sounds as if the band is leaning into more of a punk sound, but then they mellow out to that familiar, soaring quality of indie rock. And even then, there’s a darker sort of influence at work, weaving in and out, tinting everything with just a pinch of something that’s a bit ominous.
Though it might be unclear in what direction, exactly, Northern Faces appears to be traveling towards, the layer of intrigue that coats their music only serves to make things all the more interesting. On stage, the band seemed to work together with this perfect kind of pacing, and on a completely unspoken level, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. Perfect timing aside, however, their element of surprise was also amazing to witness. They burst onto the stage with their explosive opener, “Cops Come.” The guitar began, repetitive like a siren, but then ventured out into a more improvisational space.
But the band’s hit “Wait, Wait, Wait” ultimately stole the spotlight. From the funky, groove-worthy guitar intro to the subtle keyboard backbone that drives the punchy rhythm, this song ties together everything that is great about the band. They’ve found their own place in the music world, but their occupation of this unique realm is self-assured and not at all tentative. Additionally, fans of Foals will find their next obsession in Northern Faces, as the band’s vocals have that same fluid but tenacious quality that’s so incredibly hard to pin down.
These upstate New Yorkers certainly made a lasting impression this far south, as their perfectly edgy brand of indie rock is often hard to come by in acts that are oversaturated with a saccharine sentimentality. Not completely rock, or funk, or soul—the band strikes the perfect balance in doing it all. Northern Faces is clearly confident and unafraid of doing things on their own terms, which translates into a purely amazing artistic vision and promise of more great work to come.
Things are gearing up for Northern Faces, so be sure to keep up with the band via Facebook for tour dates and updates on their newest album, which will be released on April 21.
Amaryllis Lyle
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