What you get when you combine Anna Calvi and PJ Harvey? You don’t know? Well, get to know by knowing her majesty – Nadine Shah, the new princess of goth. Even though she already has two EPs and one album in her discography, Nadine’s second album made me crown her. Norwegian-Pakistani girl from United Kingdom made an impressive step in her career. Her first album was dedicated to the tragic death of two young guys and it was intensively reflecting about mental illness. Love Your Dum and Mad is an anagram from Love Your Mum and Dad.
With her second album, Nadine decided to catapult to the dark nebula of the universe to the gothic rock implodes here. If I needed to compare her to someone, it would be Zola Jesus. But I don’t need to because she is absolutely fabulous in her own unique way.
Fast Food is an ironic critic of music industry that constantly pushes short them music artists and critics of those artists. The album has ten songs but it seems much longer because your senses dissolve in it.
Title track opens the album and you can hear PJ Harvey, Nick Cave and Kate Bush influences from the very beginning. Single Fool is something that is going to keep this album memorable. Coherent analysis of her idols culminates in sarcastic lines I guessed your favorites one by one and all to your surprise, from damned Nick Cave To Kerouac. Nadine’s self-conscious and a sense for irony is also to be recognized on Stealing Cars where she sings Check your pulse when I speak. This is the core of the whole album – words that penetrate and force you to reconsider your own attitudes. I can easily imagine her becoming the next Siouxiee or PJ Harvey.
The rest of the album is also very strong. Nothing Else To Do is a harmonic ballade in which she shows her vulnerability and sensitivity. Matador showcases her vocal ability.
The end of the album is slower, accentuating her dark and sensual vocal. Big Hands and Living are honoring women and love that never gives up. Crème de la crème. I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves deep female vocals and intuitive lyrics.
