For the past 16 years, Domenic ‘Nicky’ Palermo has documented personal and relatable trials and tribulations through NOTHING‘s music. Paired with a modern, crispier brand of shoegaze, Palermo has used the platform to reflect on subjects such as addiction, isolation, loss, and survival. Yet 2020’s ‘The Great Dismal’ saw his mindset look outwards, with Palermo considering bringing the project to an end upon its release.
Fast-forward six years, NOTHING has returned with a purpose. Their fifth album, ‘a short history of decay,’ sees Palermo reflect on the past 16 years. From the relentless touring, to ER visits, to strained relationships, to heavy substance abuse, the downtime in between releases has allowed him to contemplate the journey he’s been on. At the core of the record is his physical and personal decline. In recent years, Palermo has developed essential tremors, a neurological condition similar to Parkinson’s. It’s resulted in affecting his voice, yet as ‘a short history…’ shows, he refuses to mask the non-life-threatening condition. Throughout its nine tracks, Palermo’s voice leaves a raw vulnerability amid a varied wall of sounds and textures.
Having experienced a rotating line-up throughout the project’s existence, ‘a short history…’ sees NOTHING solidify their line-up with bassist Bobb Bruno, drummer Zachary Jones, and third guitarist Cam Smith joining returning guitarist Doyle Martin. Collectively, they stay rooted in whirling shoegaze yet utilise harsher sounds throughout. For example, ‘Cannibal World’s industrial breakbeats are complemented by swirling guitars and hazy vocals with a baggy “Madchester” undertone. Later on, ‘Toothless Coal’ sees alt/grunge-rock woven into their shoegaze fabric. These moments often break out from the gentler tones that weave their way through.
From the outset, Palermo’s inward-looking approach is put out front and centre. “when i was young, life was easy,” he sings on ‘never come never morning’ before reflecting on his abusive father, and how life is now “terrible”. Its gradual progression proves to be cathartic, partly due to its blissful instrumentation. ‘The rain doesn’t care’ takes a similar path with its serene pacing, swooning guitars, and tender piano keys. It’s soon followed up by ‘Purple Strings’. Aided by a string arrangement from harpist Mary Lattimore, it hauntingly drifts with a mournful tone as Palermo admits “i’m getting to know myself.” Although they step away from the expected shoegaze of NOTHING, they prove to be poignant touchstones of the narrative Palermo wants to deliver.
Even though NOTHING constantly take musical shifts in tone and delivery, it is Palermo’s poetic storytelling that threads ‘a short history of decay’ together. For example, the title track gets swallowed up by ’90s fuzz alt-rock, with Palermo’s hazy vocals signalling displacement and worn down by his experiences. Later, ‘ballet of the traitor’ paints a bleak picture of civilised decay, commenting on how we, as a society, self-inflict it on ourselves. As the album reaches its conclusion with ‘essential tremors,’ Palermo’s vulnerability is put to the forefront in a raw manner. Its stripped-back, gradual build highlights his weariness as he confronts his physical decline, as well as ageing. Nonetheless, there is a sense of acceptance as he closes with the line “you’re my favorite fear.”
In short, ‘a short history of decay’ is a bleak but deeply human album that captures a man who reflects on his experiences, his health, and his future. It’s complemented by a diverse range of sounds that evolve NOTHING out of their shoegaze pigeonhole. The finished product is a raw and interesting album that shows NOTHING are far from finished.
‘a short history of decay’ by NOTHING is out now on Run For Cover Records.
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