thenewno2's EP002 review
Appropriately enough thenewno2’s second EP, titled, EP002, is their second EP after having released two full-lengths and their debut release, EP001 in 2006. An alternative rock band that corresponds between London and LA, and is originally composed of Dhani Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Oliver Hecks (drums, synthesizer), the newno2 are an eclectic group of musicians, who also incorporate dance and an electro beat to their industrial-like sound.
And while it is nearly reflexive to reflect on his father’s career with The Beatles (Dhani is George Harrison’s son), the band moniker, which is derived from a 1960s British TV show, offers an anonymous respite from the Beatles-driven mania that Dhani’s surname would ignite.
Even the sound and styles found on the EP002, is a leap away from the Beatles. With an industrial, even mechanical take on the world, listeners can’t help but hone into the overpowering and jarring vibes from this emotively distant stance. It’s an oddly cold form of music yet the vocals are to breach that stoicism with a bit of warmth with Dhani’s singing that eerily resembles his father’s.
The EP offers two versions of the track, “Mr. President.” In the first song featuring RZA, Crisis & Sir Eyes, Dhani’s airy vocals lures the listener into the track. RZA, and Crisis & Sir Eyes tonically sound rapping also compliments Dhani’s ethereal voice very well. The contrasting vocals and the political backbeat with the crew rapping: “Mr. President you got the whole country in debt/ Get your family more wealthy, while we suffer for it!/ I’m talking Bush not Obama,” very much speaks of the clashes that exist within our world.
In “Live a Live,” featuring Regina Spektor, the track opens up with a very Beatles-esques feel. Once again, Dhani’s vocal eerily conjure up his father’s, yet as the subject matter gets figured in, and Regina Spektor sidles into the song, the image of The Beatles slowly disappears, and we are left entirely with a voice that is directly speaking to our times.
The newno2’s lyrics and mishmash of political and cultural stance attempts to bring to the table a jarring concept of the disconnected society we live in. But while the subject matter is heavy, the danceable tunes with an indie-rock twist attempts to turn the music into something highly accessible, which goes to show the newno2’s ever-evolving style. This is evidently clear in tracks like, “Mr. President,” and the track’s remix featuring pHd One Nation, where we get to see lyrical contrasts being played out within the band’s various collaborations. It will be interesting to see what this group will do next. And if they keep up their laudable efforts, it is undeniable the likelihood of this talented band of musicians soon becoming a relevant component within our musical backdrop.