Single Review: Lucid

Talent really does shine. I never really thought about it until now but it does. It stands out, it dazzles, it makes you smile. Naught for Nothing have real talent and their new single Lucid builds on previous releases.

Whilst it isn’t a drastic departure from anything they have done before, this track is a great indication of a band who are clearly honing their skills and getting better with each release. The songwriting stands out as does the distinctive vocal from Andrew Reid. He is adding a bit of soul in this track.

There is so much going on musically you could get lost and swept along for the ride not knowing quite what happened when it finally finishes. There is clarity here though and it keeps you focused and connected but every now and then if you want to lose yourself you can. There aren’t many songs where you can listen time and time again and have a different equally enjoyable experience on each listen. This is one of them.

The song drives and then stops and starts just to keep things interesting. At 4 min 31 secs long it could have dragged but the track doesn’t feel too long. It has just enough space to not overwhelm. Naught for Nothing know how to play to their strengths and limitations. They know when to put a fork in the road and when to pull back rather than going all out. Lucid pulls you in very quickly and has a swagger and sway which sounds like Radiohead jamming with Foals at a Jazz club.

This song will go down nicely at the summer festivals in NZ. Are Naught For Nothing even playing any festivals this summer? If not they should be and if they do then make sure you go and see them. They are one of NZ’s best-kept secrets at the moment and they won’t stay that way for long if they keep this up.