A Different Kind of Listening

• Artist: Nationale Blue
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 28, 2002
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

Complexity doesn't have to be a bad thing. Boston's Nationale Blue is an incredibly talented trio that seamlessly merges technical instrumentals à la King Crimson and a number of other prog metal pioneers with the passion and chaos of indie acts like Don Caballero and the Van Pelt (with whom the group shares some startling vocal similarities). The majority of the disc is free of vocals, which makes room for some dizzying passages that range from pounding, low-end rhythms to synthesizer experiments to mind-bendingly mathy variations in tempo. While the vocals certainly bear a striking resemblance to Chris Leo's early days, they fit perfectly with the jerky playing and add a sincere urgency to the whole effort. Nationale Blue also manages to pull off the difficult feat of creating a varied record that actually works in all of its many musical incarnations, and while the production of Converge's Kurt Ballou is definitely a factor, so is the strong songwriting of this relatively young outfit. If this can make its way to the starving ears who miss the days when indie rock had true force and energy, Nationale Blue should find itself with a pretty strong fan base. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Loop Transversion	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(1:57)
Silver Alien Pyjamas in II Movements: The Sleep/The Wakening	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(6:48)
Hope Without Saying	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(5:15)
Verbal Aproxia	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(7:15)
Secret Codes	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(4:35)
Focus in Six	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(1:09)
Hot Wet Kisses in the Dark	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(6:22)
Knives and Hearts	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(6:56)
Where the Hawks Fly	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(6:26)
Made up Meanings to Made up Words	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(7:07)
Unraveling Secret Codes	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(8:51)
Your Head Is in the Dark, I Can Not Extract You	Nationale Blue	Nationale Blue	(7:11)

Credits

Keith Souza (Engineer), Kurt Ballou (Melodica), Adam Kriney (Percussion), Adam Kriney (Drum Machine), Dave Locke (Mastering), Nationale Blue (Engineer), Keith Souza (Percussion), Adam Kriney (Synthesizer), Adam Kriney (Recorder), Dave Altman (Guitar (Bass)), Reuben Bettsak (Synthesizer), Reuben Bettsak (Guitar), Adam Kriney (Penny Whistle), Dave Altman (Percussion), Reuben Bettsak (Percussion), Dave Altman (Synthesizer), Dave Altman (Vocals), Adam Kriney (Drums), Reuben Bettsak (Vocals)