Nice Cold Nation – Crossroads (CD EP – Nice Cold Nation)

Genre/Influences: New-wave, gothic.
Background/Info: French formation Nice Cold Nation strikes back after two previously released albums. The albums “Sunless” and “Collapse” didn’t really impress me so I was wondering how this new work would sound like.
Content: The band remains pretty faithful to the somber and totally 80s devoted inspiration reminding the glorious days of new-wave. This is the kind of band that might appeal for fans of The Cure and Cocteau Twins.
+ + + : The least I can say is that “Crossroads” sounds as the most accomplished work of this band today. Especially the guitar parts are pretty accomplished and featuring all the sorrow this music reflects. The synth lines inject an extra moody flavor. A similar feeling of pain can be heard in the vocals. “Somewhere” is a cool song expressing all the dark feelings inhibited by Nice Cold Nation.
– – – : Nice Cold Nation clearly sounds on the right way, but maybe has to bring more sound-identity to their songs. The tracks are pretty similar to each other.
Conclusion: This is the kind of moody, melancholic music reminding me of the atmosphere in Autumn. The days are getting shorter and rainy, the leaves are falling from the trees… it all looks grey and this is the way how “Crossroads” sounds.
Best songs: “Somewhere”, “Crossroads”.
Rate: (6½).
Band: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009843547843
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

