nick nicely Two-Pack: Expectedly Pleasant

Two from nicely (voted Most Likely To Be Pre-Judged Based on His Last Name):*:

*NOT HIS REAL LAST NAME. You may have been tipped off by the lack of initial caps or perhaps the fact that an alliterative name is generally never a real name. Born Nickolas Laurien, nicely obviously saw he would have an easier time in the entertainment industry if he dropped his unwieldy original name and switch over to something a bit more memorable. To ensure that the name was doubly memorable, rules were laid down (possibly via press kit) that nick nicely was to remain uncapitalized, much like e.e. cummings before him and ADULT. after him (except for the capitalization on the latter). (Pay attention to that period. Detroit electro duo ADULT. insists [via press kit] that the band name is to be capitalized and always {ALWAYS} followed by a full stop, even if you’re in mid-sentence. Fortunately, nicely isn’t a stickler for explicit punctuation.)

nick nicely – Treeline.mp3

Treeline is a bit of jaunty electronica that lies somewhere between Yello and the late 70’s work of Giorgio Moroder. Full of bright tones and ricocheting sounds, along with some vocal mutation. The b-side to nicely’s debut single (DCT Dreams), Treeline sounds as current as anything else out there today, leading us to one of two conclusions: a.) nicely was ahead of his time or b.) today’s music plunders the past with alarming frequency. The correct answer is “yes.” I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Great music is timeless, even if it’s over three decades old.

nick nicely – Wrottersley Road.mp3

Wrottersley Road is a different beast, kicking off with a surf guitar riff, which gives way to a muffled heartbeat kick drum (the kind of heartbeat that would get you referred to a specialist), before fading in and out of consciousness covered in washed out guitar tones and buried vocals and about a half-tonne of reverb, like some sort of Mad Professor Meets the House of Love collaboration that will never actually happen. And that is our loss, although I’ll probably feel it more than most.

/s/CLT