Charlie Nieland makes music that defies easy definition and uses it to convey universally relevant, powerful ideas. It is a case of the sonically unique being used as the engine room to deliver relatable considerations on the human condition. And, in the case of his new album, “Stories From The Borderlines”, missives and musings, thoughts and hopes from the point of view of just one person standing in a world tettering on the edge of the precipice.
As the dark clouds seem to gather on every horizon, art, culture, creativity, and even the rights for people to merely be who they are, are under attack from the unsympathetic, narrow-mindedness of authoritarianism. And of course, the natural response of the creative is to make art that counters such forces and contradicts such arguments. And that is precisely what we find Nieland doing here.
“Cease To Turn” makes for a slow, hazy, fractured start, and if it isn’t exactly representative of the sound of the album, because it is an album too adventurous to be summed up by one song, it does reflect the unique approach he has to music-making. He puts the reviewer in that difficult position of making music that is so unique, so changeable, so eclectic that you find yourself running out of words adequate enough to explain what is going on. Also, a brilliant challenge to be faced with.
If there is such a thing as ambient-funk, “Brutalist Monuments” languishes in those realms, at least when the spacious bass-scapes are not being filled in by additional sonic smarts. Groove-heavy, post-punkery at its finest.
“Win” is a gorgeous slowburner, running from piano understatement to indie-rock anthemics, aided and abetted by spiritchild’s urgent and encouraging rap-salvo pleas, “Redshift” wanders more orchestrally guided, trippy folkscapes, and “Shame” is a glamy, proggy, pop-y piece that feels like a collaboration with Lou Reed and David Bowie,…and early Roxy Music.
But if the music is as eclectic and adventurous, and as genre-hopping as we have come to expect from Charlie Nieland, the overall lyrical themes are focused and decisive. Each song is a rallying cry for love and connection, understanding and empathy, unity and heart. This is music making as a quest for light in the dark; this is music making as an act of resistance.
When culture comes under attack, make more. When creativity is canceled, create. When love is in short supply, care more. When music is your only weapon, let it be your voice.
Spotify
Shame
Win (feat. spiritchild) video
Redshift video
The Ocean Understands EP
