Experimental collective NOUS share intense, intricate new track “We Hope the Weather Will Continue”
On May 29, New York experimental music collective NOUS will release their new album NOUS III via Our Silent Canvas. The group is led by composer Christopher Bono and features Greg Fox (Liturgy, Ex Eye), Thor Harris (Swans, Shearwater), Shahzad Ismaily (Yoko Ono, Bonnie “Prince” Billy), and Grey McMurray (So Percussion). Today they’ve released a new video for “We Hope The Weather Will Continue,” which shows the group performing in studio, showcasing the intricacy and intensity of their music.
The track is a hypnotic piece of moody post-rock, balancing vibraphone pulses with urgent drumming and some dusty strands of noir guitar and strings. It only grows in intensity over the course of its six and a half minutes, crafting a tense but rich atmosphere. It’s stunning. Hear it below.
Bono says about the track in a statement: “‘We Hope the Weather Will Continue’ was one of a few improvisational experiments combining odd meters with an electronic underpinning, which was an important facet of these original NOUS sessions.
“The seed material presented to the players as fodder for improvisation was a series of notated asymmetrical 7/4 rhythms, with a structure guided by minimal synthesizer loops triggered from Ableton Live to provide a path for the piece. The simplicity of the original seed ideas allowed the extraordinary talents of the participating players to emerge in the moment. This track in particular highlights the virtuosic rhythmic sensibility of drummer Greg Fox.
“The analog prophet synth driving an Ampeg bass amp provided a heavy and interesting electro-acoustic contrast to the talented ACME & Y-Music classical ensemble musicians who joined the core quintet on this session.”
NOUS III tracklist:
1. We Hope The Weather Will Continue
2. Ninths
3. A Falling Tear
4. Never Can It Be
5. Dust Suspended
6. Egac Ot Egamon
7. Blush
8. Chandra
9. Kindness
