Losing Today Single Review - December 2006

The Nightjars ‘Cease to Exist’ (Kiss of Death / Reveal). Another release that to date has persistently managed to duck and dive it’s way into the CD pile and out of arms length - so apologies to one and all. ’Cease to exist’ is the debut release from Manchester based quartet the Nightjars and before you all start groaning about another Mancunian guitar band replaying the cities past musical glories - think again this lot are more adeptly tuned in to the most crucial elements of America’s old school underground scene - namely the Minnesota area - to be more
precise- Husker Du.

It would however be fair to say that ‘Cease to Exist’ tinkers more so with Sugar than Husker Du but the prevailing ingredients and accents are in place all the same. this breezy honey coated nugget rumbles with a rugged cruise controlled power pop grace that occasionally splinters into action yet never threatens to tip the balance rather more erring on the side of carving out a slow to burn delayed effect sucker punch that patches in at intervals elements of a more muscularly inclined Velvet Crush into its matrix.

The Velvet Crush comparisons are more prevalent on the initial opening sequences of the fluid sounding ‘Disabuse’ found over on the flip, the breezily softly cured jagged West Coast vibes references Chris Brokaw’s Snares and Kites project while simultaneous paying the loosest of nods to ‘Experimental Jet Set’ / ‘Washing Machine’ era Sonic Youth while investing the most subtle of traces pertaining to post rock’s jazzy codas. Quite a little gem all said and done.

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