There’s no shortage of bands exploring the stern-and-serious sound of late ‘70s post-punk Britain, but decidedly fewer artists have seemed interested in the period that followed—the months just after Ian Curtis’s suicide but before New Order had taken hold, when the grim, guitar-driven sound that defined the underground was giving way to something spongier, synthier, and more amorphous. Enter Nabihah Iqbal, and her stunning debut Weighing of the Heart. Iqbal achieved 10 minutes of internet fame as Throwing Shade with the song “Hashtag IRL,” but that track’s glitchy techno has been fully jettisoned in favor of funereal synths and the drifting, far-off vocal melodies that defined early works by The Wake, Tuxedomoon, and Section 25. Iqbal’s vocal approach is Heart’s ace in the hole: by keeping the melody lines loose and amorphous, she gives the songs a shapeless, dreamlike feel. The end result is mesmerizing, cloudlike songs that flash color and light.
With the release of her debut album, Nabihah Iqbal makes two big announcements. Firstly, that she’s leaving her old Throwing Shade moniker behind. By embracing the name she was born with, she proudly wears it as a female British Asian artist making electronic music. Secondly, that she will be releasing her album on Ninja Tune.
Incorporating live instrumentation more than before, ‘Weighing of the Heart’, takes on a bolder, more inclusive sound than her previous releases. Channeling influences from the likes of CAN and Bauhaus, she melds moody, propulsive basslines with shimmering synth atmospheres. The title alludes to an Ancient Egyptian myth about judgement and the afterlife, the concept of which underlies various ideas that are explored throughout the album.
The album’s intertwining styles are underpinned by Iqbal's writing, drawing on themes of existential doubt, pondering the struggles and pleasures which mark day-to-day life. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the lead single ‘Something More’ - released today - her subdued vocals exploring the feeling of being eternally unsatisfied with what you’ve got.
In addition to her music production, Nabihah has hosted a bi-weekly show on NTS since 2013, exploring the musical traditions of different countries. She has also received several commissions from other corners of the arts: she recently took part in a group performance as part of the Barbican’s Basquiat retrospective and collaborated with Wolfgang Tillmans at his major Tate Modern exhibition. She’s received plaudits from publications including Pitchfork, -The Guardian, The Fader and Complex. She has also had radio support from Huw Stephens, Monki, and Toddla T on Radio 1, Jamz Supernova on Radio 1Xtra, Gilles Peterson on Radio 6Music and Zane Lowe on Beats 1.
Nos preguntamos a través de las vidas de los demás Al igual que los ríos, flujo constante Y signos de vida en todos nuestros ojos Mantenga esta ciudad sobre la marcha El sol saldrá, el sol se pondrá Siete días, cinco y dos De esta vida en la próxima Todos solo intentamos pasar Todos solo intentamos pasar En cada clase, en cada escuela En cada escritorio donde el tiempo está bien empleado Despertar para romper las reglas Esperando la semana hasta el final El mismo viejo cuento se repite 9-5 años tras año Pensamientos y esperanzas quedaron en el estante Escape el viernes Quedar atrapado el lunes Escape el viernes Quedar atrapado el lunes El sol saldrá, el sol se pondrá Siete días, cinco y dos De esta vida en la próxima Todos solo intentamos pasar Todos solo intentamos pasar Cómo emergen las multitudes en la noche Transportado a través del subterráneo Buscando esa luz maravillosa Vislumbrado en sueños pero raramente encontrado Y a través de las calles de medianoche, oirás Cómo lo joven y lo viejo Partido difícil de adormecer el miedo Nadie quiere sentir el frío Escape el viernes Quedar atrapado el lunes Quién ser y cómo ser y qué vestirse, a quién conocer y adónde ir, cuidar y seguirme. Te llevaré allí. Quién ser y cómo ser y qué vestirse, a quién conocer y adónde ir, cuidar y seguirme. Te llevaré allí. Sígueme, te llevaré allí En cada bofetada y cada beso Y cada empuje que gira para empujar Y cada golpe y cada error Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor En cada bofetada y cada beso Y cada empuje que gira para empujar Y cada golpe y cada error Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor
There’s no shortage of bands exploring the stern-and-serious sound of late ‘70s post-punk Britain, but decidedly fewer artists have seemed interested in the period that followed—the months just after Ian Curtis’s suicide but before New Order had taken hold, when the grim, guitar-driven sound that defined the underground was giving way to something spongier, synthier, and more amorphous. Enter Nabihah Iqbal, and her stunning debut Weighing of the Heart. Iqbal achieved 10 minutes of internet fame as Throwing Shade with the song “Hashtag IRL,” but that track’s glitchy techno has been fully jettisoned in favor of funereal synths and the drifting, far-off vocal melodies that defined early works by The Wake, Tuxedomoon, and Section 25. Iqbal’s vocal approach is Heart’s ace in the hole: by keeping the melody lines loose and amorphous, she gives the songs a shapeless, dreamlike feel. The end result is mesmerizing, cloudlike songs that flash color and light.
ResponderEliminarWith the release of her debut album, Nabihah Iqbal makes two big announcements. Firstly, that she’s leaving her old Throwing Shade moniker behind. By embracing the name she was born with, she proudly wears it as a female British Asian artist making electronic music. Secondly, that she will be releasing her album on Ninja Tune.
ResponderEliminarIncorporating live instrumentation more than before, ‘Weighing of the Heart’, takes on a bolder, more inclusive sound than her previous releases. Channeling influences from the likes of CAN and Bauhaus, she melds moody, propulsive basslines with shimmering synth atmospheres. The title alludes to an Ancient Egyptian myth about judgement and the afterlife, the concept of which underlies various ideas that are explored throughout the album.
The album’s intertwining styles are underpinned by Iqbal's writing, drawing on themes of existential doubt, pondering the struggles and pleasures which mark day-to-day life. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the lead single ‘Something More’ - released today - her subdued vocals exploring the feeling of being eternally unsatisfied with what you’ve got.
In addition to her music production, Nabihah has hosted a bi-weekly show on NTS since 2013, exploring the musical traditions of different countries. She has also received several commissions from other corners of the arts: she recently took part in a group performance as part of the Barbican’s Basquiat retrospective and collaborated with Wolfgang Tillmans at his major Tate Modern exhibition. She’s received plaudits from publications including Pitchfork, -The Guardian, The Fader and Complex. She has also had radio support from Huw Stephens, Monki, and Toddla T on Radio 1, Jamz Supernova on Radio 1Xtra, Gilles Peterson on Radio 6Music and Zane Lowe on Beats 1.
released December 1, 2017
2017, Ninja Tune
Nos preguntamos a través de las vidas de los demás
ResponderEliminarAl igual que los ríos, flujo constante
Y signos de vida en todos nuestros ojos
Mantenga esta ciudad sobre la marcha
El sol saldrá, el sol se pondrá
Siete días, cinco y dos
De esta vida en la próxima
Todos solo intentamos pasar
Todos solo intentamos pasar
En cada clase, en cada escuela
En cada escritorio donde el tiempo está bien empleado
Despertar para romper las reglas
Esperando la semana hasta el final
El mismo viejo cuento se repite
9-5 años tras año
Pensamientos y esperanzas quedaron en el estante
Escape el viernes
Quedar atrapado el lunes
Escape el viernes
Quedar atrapado el lunes
El sol saldrá, el sol se pondrá
Siete días, cinco y dos
De esta vida en la próxima
Todos solo intentamos pasar
Todos solo intentamos pasar
Cómo emergen las multitudes en la noche
Transportado a través del subterráneo
Buscando esa luz maravillosa
Vislumbrado en sueños pero raramente encontrado
Y a través de las calles de medianoche, oirás
Cómo lo joven y lo viejo
Partido difícil de adormecer el miedo
Nadie quiere sentir el frío
Escape el viernes
Quedar atrapado el lunes
Quién ser y cómo ser y qué vestirse, a quién conocer y adónde ir, cuidar y seguirme. Te llevaré allí.
Quién ser y cómo ser y qué vestirse, a quién conocer y adónde ir, cuidar y seguirme. Te llevaré allí.
Sígueme, te llevaré allí
En cada bofetada y cada beso
Y cada empuje que gira para empujar
Y cada golpe y cada error
Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor
Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor
En cada bofetada y cada beso
Y cada empuje que gira para empujar
Y cada golpe y cada error
Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor
Siempre es trabajo y nunca amor