The imperfectionist is Nothing Concrete’s Album Out Now
Good Day Noir Family,
From the opening track The Boats, it’s clear that The Imperfectionist isn’t your standard indie rock release.
The imperfectionist is Nothing Concrete’s Album Out Now
The rhythm feels like a village parade stumbling into town, complete with a theatrical vocal entrance that evokes the image of a traveling circus announcing its arrival. There’s a playful charm here—joyful, nostalgic, and just a little unpredictable.
That theatrical streak runs throughout the record, and Broken Bird cements it. There’s a swing-infused bounce to the arrangement, like a sepia-toned flashback to another era, where brass bands met cabaret stages and weren’t afraid to be bold. It’s music with flair, unafraid of drama, but always anchored in strong musicality.
He Don’t Do Much of That Now takes things even further back in time, throwing us headfirst into the 1950s with snappy brass arrangements, tight rhythm sections, and vintage-style female backing vocals. The male lead has that retro TV show crooner quality—less polished, more performative—and it suits the mood perfectly.
Then comes the title track, The Imperfectionist. With its Balkan flair and infectious energy, it could easily sit beside the works of Tonino Carotone or Goran Bregović. There’s something magnetic about that folk stomp, the kind of rhythm that demands movement from your feet before your brain has time to process it.
Mariachi follows with another dancehall-friendly groove, dipped in the flavor of rural festivals and old-world carnivals. The bassline is pure joy, carrying the listener on its back like a carousel ride through a dusky fairground.
And then there’s SOS, one of the album’s most striking cuts. Here, the mood turns shadowy—part noir, part desert western. Think Ennio Morricone scoring a Coen Brothers film, where intrigue and absurdity walk hand in hand. It’s intricate, textured, and full of cinematic imagination.
Closing track The Western bursts in with brisk, ska-like urgency, an instrumental piece that lets each band member shine. The solos and sonic twists feel earned—never flashy for the sake of it, but celebratory in spirit. It’s a wild, fitting finale for a band that thrives on showmanship and creativity.
The Imperfectionist is a musical theater production for your ears, packed with oddball characters, smoky saloons, street parades, and heartfelt detours. Nothing Concrete have delivered something strange, vibrant, and unforgettable.
The imperfectionist is Nothing Concrete’s Album Out Now!
Theatrical!
The imperfectionist is Nothing Concrete’s Album Out Now
Nothing Concrete is a multicultural music collective originally formed in Scotland and now based in Foix, France. Founded by Fergus McKay and Gaia Miato, the band unites musicians from around the world to create a vibrant fusion of afrobeat, blues, and tango. Their fourth studio album, The Imperfectionist, recorded in 2024 in a self-built, eco-friendly studio in the Ariège region, features a powerful tribute to migration and diversity in the lead single, The Boats. With acclaimed New York producer Keith Witty contributing to the project, the band continues to expand its global reach. In 2025, Nothing Concrete will perform at the legendary Glastonbury Festival, marking a defining moment in their evolving journey.
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