Nedry
In a Dim Light
Release Date: Mar 20, 2012
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Electronic
Record label: Monotreme
Music Critic Score
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Album Review: In a Dim Light by Nedry
Great, Based on 5 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
Are Nedry a band or a group of producers? When I think of the sort of beats/guitars crossover acts who have a lot in common with the group – Massive Attack, Stereolab, Air, The Knife, even back to Silver Apples, for instance – I personally divide nearly all of them one way or the other. Nedry, however, occupy an ambiguous space in between. In their live performances, expressive vocalist Ayu Okakita stands between Matt Parker and Chris Amblin, who control keys and laptops, all three members picking up guitars at different points.
Based on rating 7/10
In the years between Nedry's albums Condors and In a Dim Light, dubstep exploded into the mainstream, making what was once cutting-edge ubiquitous. However, these songs show that the trio doesn't have to rely on a wobbling bassline to craft intriguing songs and sounds. The shadowy but alluring territory of tracks such as "Dusk Till Dawn" reaffirms that In a Dim Light is aptly named; at the very least, its subtler, often monochromatic approach is a far cry from the collage-like feel of Condors, where it felt like Nedry rejoiced in throwing disparate sounds together and hearing them collide.
Opinion: Excellent
A striking vision born of the studied assimilation of bass culture constituents. Mike Diver 2012 It has surely come to pass before now that a naïve promoter has pressed 'send' on pre-show publicity advertising this London-based trio as 'Nerdy' – but, in a way, such a mistake seems apposite given the music in question. Theirs is a hybrid of dingy club and sparkling dancefloor sounds, mutant dubstep and groaning guitars, so fastidiously arranged that its geekier tendencies become endearing elements.
Opinion: Very Good
Two years since the release of ‘Condors’ in 2010, London-based trio Nedry have returned, having lost none of the flurry of excitement or beautifully realised soundscapes that have come to define them. ‘In A Dim Light’ is the band’s second collection of material, one that shows how their knack for creating painstakingly crafted songs has not diminished, and one that revels in its synergy of restrained dub, driving electronics and ethereal vocals. Together Nedry is the aftermath of a sprawling amalgamation of electronic genres and sounds.
Opinion: Average
When Condors, the 2009 debut from London, UK post-trip-hoppers Nedry, was released, almost all of the album's press mentioned the band's similarities to artists like Björk, the Knife and Portishead. Which would be fine, had journalists also talked about the subject at hand: Nedry. In a Dim Light, the trio's follow-up, gives some additional insight into why it remains hard to punch out an original sentence about this group.