Like leading a horse to water, you tell me there’s a 90s-influenced band from Austin, and I’m lapping it up. Nuclear Daisies is the latest band to lure me into their trap, though theirs is not the typical in any way, shape, or form. Taking a clear Anglophile influence in their love of UK electronic, goth pop, and post-punk, First Taste of Heaven surprises at every turn. Equal parts hazy, urgent, and hip-shaking, the resulting record sounds like the rave scenes from every 2000s noir-ish thriller (think The Matrix Reloaded or Blade), with liberal doses of euphoria and melancholia. The result is a dark record flooded with the ways we push through the haze of modern life. Hell, even the name works perfectly to explain things, as multi-instrumentalist Rob Glynn says:
“The name is inspired by the plant life that came back after the Fukushima reactor melted down. It’s fascinating that nature could come back more resilient after mass destruction. Hard times make you feel the beauty in the world, and it’s good to acknowledge and feel that even if it’s fleeting. In the immortal words of Warren Zevon you have to ‘enjoy every sandwich.’ I remember telling [the band] when we started that I wanted the band to sound like the rave at the end of time, and I just keep wanting to strive for that.”
“I tend to be a pretty positive person,” says vocalist Alex Gehring, “but for some reason it’s my dark/ sad moments that inspire me to write. A lot of the time, it’ll be a happier sounding song, but if you listen to my lyrics closely, you’d be like ‘damn, she’s going through it!’ Being around [the band] is such a fun and genuinely fulfilling experience, and when I’m in the studio with them writing, I see myself leaning towards happier melodies and topics. I think writing with friends vs. writing alone definitely can bring out a different mood.”
First Taste of Heaven is out now, and you can order it here. Follow Nuclear Daisies on Instagram for future updates.
Photo Credit: Gabriel Hernandez
