Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by John Richards, host of The Morning Show on KEXP, is "Rush & Fever" by Nation of Language, from the 2020 self-released album Introduction, Presence.
It will come as no surprise that Brooklyn synth-pop band Nation Of Language found inspiration in early new wave — specifically, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s 1980 single “Electricity.” Their debut LP, titled Introduction, Presence, shimmers with synths and vocalist Ian Devaney's post-punk-inflected vocals. In a press release, Devaney explains:
It occurred to me that a moment in time existed when it seemed everyone still had a kind of ‘beginner's mind’ about how synthesizers could be used and fit into the musical landscape. They were wielding this technology as a blunt instrument, and it felt like I had been given permission to do the same.
There’s something fascinating to me about how emotions can present themselves when one is unsure of what exactly they’re doing. It’s important to me that people feel that core of innocence and pure discovery out of which these songs were born.
I hoped in making this album to create the space to openly ache for something. My favorite songs have always allowed me to indulge in a kind of longing, and this album was designed very simply to afford the same room to the listener. If I can build the structure to effectively pass that along to other people, I’ll feel like I’ve done something worthwhile.
