nonkeen - The Gamble

nonkeen
The Gamble
2016
Spotify

nonkeen is a recently group of reunited keyboardists and producers who in making of The Gamble took old tracks recorded in the 90s and re-purposed them into this record. The process behind this had to be maddening as much of the tape was actual tape from four track recorders. The work had to be daunting but it adds to an already interesting and mesmerizing mystique this record has. It is other worldly and completely modern but has a warmth and rich depth of tone that is the reason people still hold on to vinyl. This deep dive into the ways of production for this record is no accident because it is the production that really feels like the most important aspect here. The music is really good, but the way that it all comes together makes all the difference. On songs like "Animal Farm" you get this little bursts of muffled sound when a bass note hits that just sound so very right. However it is not always a dream, there are other moments when the music is very dated, like you are listening to a lost doors album that Jim Morrison never sang on. The electric organ doesn't help with this either.

Towards the middle of the record the cool concept does start to fall of the rails a bit. Where we usually would have clean sounds and interesting tones this gives way to a more direct rip of something old. The album starts to feel it's age and the constant sticking with one line of music becomes trying at best. The entire album works as one unit, but there is not enough to break it up and give you a chance to catch your breath along the way. The most compelling songs come at the beginning which leads to a slow descend into obscurity finishing off with "Re:turn!" which has little in terms of adding a nice punch to the album. For a group to embark on this kind of episode however has to be commended and there really is quite a bit of good here. Take a risk and give this album a listen, just don't expect not to check out around the 25 minute mark.

6.9 out of 10