After recently wrapping up their Europe/UK tour, synth-pop trio Nation of Language is laying the groundwork for their upcoming US tour with the arrival of their third album, Strange Disciple. Released on Sept. 15, 2023 via PIAS, the trio’s third full-length offering shines with all those flawless new wave sounds Nation of Language has been known to deliver so beautifully.
The band has an upcoming show in Los Angeles at the Roxy on Oct. 28, a San Diego date at Belly Up Tavern on Oct. 29, and many other tour dates.
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Though expected to take much longer to make, the album came as a surprise for the Brooklyn natives who recently wrapped up final touches, something reflected in the album’s short yet refined tracklist. With a whopping five singles teased leading up to the album, Nation of Language still surprises for how much they’ve developed in a relatively short span since their last two albums dropped in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
In just three years, Nation of Language has continuously created flawless pieces of work that spark nostalgia for a prolific music era that spoke to many fans and artists alike. The group’s undeniable talent for creating modern synth-pop that resonates makes Nation of Language stand apart from most revival bands.
“This is an album about love, first and foremost, shared singer Ian Richard Devaney in a social media post. “It journeys from true and pure love, to unrequited love, to obsession, heartbreak, agony and then to the ecstasy of acceptance. A meditation on how beautiful it is to feel anything at all, all the best and worst of it. We hope it can be there for you through it all.”
The album’s opening track, “Weak In Your Light,” starts as though you’re entering the Matrix, mainly due to the computer grid-esc keys. Devaney’s ghostly vocals haunt the production, acting as a shapeshifting spirit who transforms alongside the track’s gradual progression. As he sings hopelessly about romantic feelings, distant synths populate the background like mountains surrounding him in his lovesick daze.
Of the five tracks not previously released beforehand, “Spare Me The Decision” is the one that should’ve been a single with how it gets etched into your mind. In the first half, the track takes time to build but eventually becomes more lively through the playful keys and scattered sound effects in the latter half. The song also recalls 80s groups like O.M.D. and New Order, albeit in an updated and authentic fashion that distinguishes them from being more than just a homage band.
While it took six months for the band to get the okay and drop their already completed album, the wait was worth it and resulted in one of the band’s most confident releases.
“This one might be described as our ‘city record.’ Not necessarily our hometown of NYC specifically, but an album meant for walking around any city in any country on any continent and getting lost while you listen,” said Devaney in an email. “That’s how we imagine it anyhow. It’s what we’ve done a lot over the past year or so, and we’d love it if any and all of you do the same.”
Even when listening away from the city or sitting at home, there’s a hustle and bustle feel about the album where the band has no time to waste while always managing to reach their goals, and that is to make the listener feel something.
Words: David Sosa
Strange Disciple by Nation of Language is out on all streaming services. Catch the band live at a tour date near you. For more on new music and live shows, follow them on Instagram and their website.
