‘Between II Worlds’: More Than Worth The Wait (Review)

[divider]Production[/divider]

The production in Between II Worlds is another typically high-quality endeavor for NERO, but still quite different from their debut album. Featuring a far more rich and deep sound, it’s clear that a lot of analogue equipment was used, reducing a lot of the harshness and edge we became used to in Welcome Reality. The trio also did a fantastic job of dialing in Alana Watson’s vocals, seamlessly maintaining the intensity of the songs while also softening her sound.

Within these changes, NERO is still NERO. The shift in sound is a master-class in evolving without having to abandon everything that came before. Throughout EDM, much is made of artists ‘changing genres’ or playing things outside of their stock-sound. Even with a four-year gap between albums, NERO successfully maintained their bass-heavy core while creating an album that sounds measurably different than the last. Considering how insanely successful and astounding Welcome Reality was (and is), the willingness to shift their sound at all is admirable.

Song choice: It Comes And It Goes

[divider]Songwriting[/divider]

Our favorite aspect of Between II Worlds is the songwriting, specifically throughout the first-half of the album. The emotional storytelling of Alana Watson throughout the first six tunes sees bass music returning to the trance-like, thumping and pounding we’ve missed since the decline of trip hop. Artists like Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, and more clearly had an influence on the making of this album, and we couldn’t be happier about it. These tracks build Between II Worlds in the best way imaginable, drawing the listener in, and immediately battling the most vulnerable aspects of human relationships.

The second half of the album is less of this newer-NERO sound, and more the feel from Welcome Reality that we initially fell in love with. Into The Night, Satisfy, Dark Skies, and Tonight, are all fantastic songs, but compared to the run from tracks one through five, the latter half of Between II Worlds comes apart a bit. Now, this is serious nitpicking, but with an album this great, nitpicking is all you can do to find any potential negative aspects.

Song Choice: What Does Love Mean

[divider]Cohesion[/divider]

The cohesiveness of Between II Worlds is what make is what sets it apart from the rest of the dance music albums released this year. As we mentioned before, the flow of the first half of Between II Worlds is perfection. From song to song, we follow our protagonist Watson through the ups-and-downs of early and pre-relationship functions. Wondering what the other person thinks, those first fluttering feelings, and eventually making the leap into love.

The first five tracks of the album set up for an action-filled second half that, while a fantastic set of songs, lack the flow and rhythm of the first. Following the title-track half-way through the album, songs seven through 12 feel more like a collection of post-Welcome Reality originals, rather than a continuation from the first half. However, from the viewpoint of those who’ve been in a few relationships, the disjointed, more eclectic second-half of the album could been seen as the rocky, intense road down which we find ourselves at Wasted. Either way, Between II Worlds is best enjoyed as one-piece, a production style that’s unfortunately becoming less prevalent everyday.

Song Choice: Into The Night

[divider]Originality[/divider]

There’s one group who could’ve created an album like this. Although we’ve been treated to some great albums in recent years, Between II Worlds thrives on the originality brought by its creators. Releasing an album this good, in this fashion, is something that only NERO could’ve done.

They’re seen as an electronic dance music group, and Between II Worlds couldn’t be further from what many consider EDM today. Straying from the build/drop/build/drop formula, and the rest of the exhausting monotony rampant throughout dance music today, NERO put together a beautifully coherent, bass music-fueled, thematic masterpiece. They did so on their time, in their way, and unlike a lot of dance music today, Between II Worlds can easily be enjoyed outside of the usual EDM manner. Not made for a pre-party playlist, NERO’s latest album gives us hope for the future of dance music.

Song Choice: Two Minds

Need more NERO? The trio recently gave everyone a taste of who they are, and where they’ve come from, with a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix celebrating the release of their sophomore album. We openly hope for more new NERO tunes in the future. But for now, we’ll gladly take this beautiful piece of art and recognize it for what it is: the best dance music album of the year. You can grab the album on iTunes here, and let us know what you think of NERO’s latest album by commenting below, on Facebook, or replying on Twitter!